LEED AND BREEAM CERTIFICATION AS A TOOL FOR PROMOTING TIMBER CONSTRUCTION: OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF USING WOOD IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND UKRAINE'S RECONSTRUCTION
Keywords:
LEED; BREEAM; timber construction; sustainable development; reconstruction of Ukraine.
Abstract
The paper examines the LEED and BREEAM certification systems as tools for
promoting timber construction in the context of sustainable development and Ukraine's
reconstruction. It substantiates that the advantages of wood are not automatic, but require
confirmation through life-cycle assessment, environmental product declarations, responsible
material sourcing, emissions control, fire safety and energy efficiency. It is shown that LEED and
BREEAM can serve as a methodological framework for improving project quality, procurement
transparency, access to finance and the formation of a low-carbon model for Ukraines
reconstruction.
References
1. World Bank, Government of Ukraine, European Commission, United Nations. Ukraine Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment / recovery and reconstruction needs estimates, 2026. URL: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/ukraine
2. U.S. Green Building Council. LEED v5 Reference Guide / Rating System for Building Design and Construction, November 2025 Edition. URL: https://www.usgbc.org/leed/v5
3. U.S. Green Building Council. LEED rating system: certification levels and point thresholds. URL: https://www.usgbc.org/leed
4. U.S. Green Building Council. Guide to LEED Certification. URL: https://www.usgbc.org/guide-LEED-certification
5. BRE / BREEAM. How BREEAM works: assessment categories and ratings. URL: https://breeam.com/about/how-breeam-works
6. BREEAM. New Construction Version 7 Resources and Technical Standard Summaries. URL: https://breeam.com/breeam-newconstructionv7/downloads
7. NBS. What is BREEAM? Rating thresholds and certification stages. URL: https://www.thenbs.com/knowledge/what-is-breeam
8. DGNB. About the DGNB System. URL: https://www.dgnb.de/en/certification/important-facts-about-dgnb-certification/about-the-dgnb-system
9. EDGE Buildings / IFC. EDGE Green Building Certification: 20% savings in energy, water and embodied carbon in materials. URL: https://edgebuildings.com/
10. International WELL Building Institute. WELL v2 overview: ten concepts of WELL. URL: https://www.wellcertified.com/certification/v2-pilot/
11. European Commission. Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU) 2024/1275. URL: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-performance-buildings/energy-performance-buildings-directive_en
12. European Commission. Calculation framework for new building life-cycle Global Warming Potential, 2026. URL: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/news/calculation-framework-new-building-life-cycle-global-warming-potential-2026-05-04_en
13. Міністерство внутрішніх справ України. Правила пожежної безпеки в Україні, наказ №1417 від 30.12.2014. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/z0252-15
14. Churkina, G. et al. Buildings as a global carbon sink. Nature Sustainability, 2020. URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0462-4
15. CEN. EN 15978:2011. Sustainability of construction works — Assessment of environmental performance of buildings — Calculation method.
16. CEN. EN 15804+A2:2019. Sustainability of construction works — Environmental product declarations — Core rules for construction products.
17. ISO 14040:2006 / ISO 14044:2006. Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Principles, framework, requirements and guidelines.
18. Forest Stewardship Council. FSC Chain of Custody Certification and responsible sourcing of forest products. URL: https://fsc.org/en/chain-of-custody-certification
19. PEFC. Chain of Custody certification and sustainable forest management. URL: https://pefc.org/standards-implementation/standards-and-guides/chain-of-custody
2. U.S. Green Building Council. LEED v5 Reference Guide / Rating System for Building Design and Construction, November 2025 Edition. URL: https://www.usgbc.org/leed/v5
3. U.S. Green Building Council. LEED rating system: certification levels and point thresholds. URL: https://www.usgbc.org/leed
4. U.S. Green Building Council. Guide to LEED Certification. URL: https://www.usgbc.org/guide-LEED-certification
5. BRE / BREEAM. How BREEAM works: assessment categories and ratings. URL: https://breeam.com/about/how-breeam-works
6. BREEAM. New Construction Version 7 Resources and Technical Standard Summaries. URL: https://breeam.com/breeam-newconstructionv7/downloads
7. NBS. What is BREEAM? Rating thresholds and certification stages. URL: https://www.thenbs.com/knowledge/what-is-breeam
8. DGNB. About the DGNB System. URL: https://www.dgnb.de/en/certification/important-facts-about-dgnb-certification/about-the-dgnb-system
9. EDGE Buildings / IFC. EDGE Green Building Certification: 20% savings in energy, water and embodied carbon in materials. URL: https://edgebuildings.com/
10. International WELL Building Institute. WELL v2 overview: ten concepts of WELL. URL: https://www.wellcertified.com/certification/v2-pilot/
11. European Commission. Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU) 2024/1275. URL: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-performance-buildings/energy-performance-buildings-directive_en
12. European Commission. Calculation framework for new building life-cycle Global Warming Potential, 2026. URL: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/news/calculation-framework-new-building-life-cycle-global-warming-potential-2026-05-04_en
13. Міністерство внутрішніх справ України. Правила пожежної безпеки в Україні, наказ №1417 від 30.12.2014. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/z0252-15
14. Churkina, G. et al. Buildings as a global carbon sink. Nature Sustainability, 2020. URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0462-4
15. CEN. EN 15978:2011. Sustainability of construction works — Assessment of environmental performance of buildings — Calculation method.
16. CEN. EN 15804+A2:2019. Sustainability of construction works — Environmental product declarations — Core rules for construction products.
17. ISO 14040:2006 / ISO 14044:2006. Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Principles, framework, requirements and guidelines.
18. Forest Stewardship Council. FSC Chain of Custody Certification and responsible sourcing of forest products. URL: https://fsc.org/en/chain-of-custody-certification
19. PEFC. Chain of Custody certification and sustainable forest management. URL: https://pefc.org/standards-implementation/standards-and-guides/chain-of-custody
Published
2026-05-07
How to Cite
Igor, L., & Maksymets, O. (2026). LEED AND BREEAM CERTIFICATION AS A TOOL FOR PROMOTING TIMBER CONSTRUCTION: OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF USING WOOD IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND UKRAINE'S RECONSTRUCTION. Forestry Education and Science: Current Challenges and Development Prospects. Retrieved from https://conf.nltu.edu.ua/index.php/nltu150/article/view/505
