Cowi certifies first Breeam industrial building in Scandinavia

Danish consultancy Cowi acted as assessor for the first industrial building in Scandinavia to be issued with a BRE environmental assessment method (Breeam) 'green' building certification. The 49,000m² food distribution warehouse in southern Sweden has an energy consumption 60% lower than stipulated by Swedish law. Other sustainable features include bicycle parking and a “sewage pond” that collects excess water if the sewage system's capacity is exceeded during storms. The building could have achieved a higher rating under the Breeam certification hierarchy, if the Breeam methodology had been used as a guide from the outset, according to Morten Buus, Cowi's Breeam assessor.

• Cowi news release