BREEAM Version 7 for New Construction – which came into effect on 30th September 2025 – putting more emphasis on demonstrable performance during construction than the previous incarnation of the sustainable building standard.
Following a full technical review, combining the latest energy and carbon science, current industry standards and structured stakeholder consultation, Version 7 revises key issues to align more closely with the EU Taxonomy, and puts greater weight on whole-life carbon, biodiversity and ecology, resilience and material selection.
The result is a science-driven standard that helps teams minimise environmental impact, improve resource efficiency, and design assets that hold up under future stresses, all while staying within real project constraints.
But what implications might this updated version of the have for site setup and management, and in particular, what part can off-grid lighting powered by renewables play in achieving BREEAM accreditation?
Responsible construction, proven on site
Man 03 Responsible construction is the BREEAM sub-category which encourages sites to be managed in an environmentally and socially considerate, responsible and accountable manner.
Assessors look for a documented site environmental plan, clear nuisance controls for noise, dust, light and vibration at the boundary, and credible monitoring of construction impacts such as energy, water and transport. They also expect evidence of governance in practice, for example supervisor responsibilities, toolbox talks, audits and, where used, Considerate Constructors Scheme scores.
This is where temporary lighting decisions matter. Off-grid, optically controlled units reduce generator noise and fuel handling, cut spill and glare at hoardings and crossings, and produce metered data and control logs that strengthen the Man 03 evidence file. They are also a particularly high-leverage choice during winter programmes because they affect workers, neighbours and carbon on most evenings, as it gets dark before the end of the normal working day (and days are shorter, which lengthens the dark conditions experienced during night works).
It’s not just about inconvenience, either, but safety. Perimeter risk peaks at mixed-visibility periods, especially late afternoon into early evening in winter. The safest strategy is targeted light with controlled spill, stable colour rendering, and predictable transitions that pedestrians and drivers can interpret.
Choosing an off-grid lighting option with engineered optics and programmable controls supports this approach and reduces the need for blanket brightness that can introduce glare on wet approaches. Additionally, thanks to the design of off-grid lighting, there are no trailing cables, so there is no trip or accidental-disconnection risk in pedestrian interfaces and access lanes.
BREEAM V7: is it more rigorous?
It’s certainly the case that BREEAM V6 referenced nuisance and monitoring, but many teams relied on intent rather than proof. V7 raises the bar for assurance and favours measures that reduce impacts at source while producing reliable records without extra process – off-grid lighting fits that pattern, which is why it reads well to assessors and client governance teams.
In Version 7 the evidential bar is higher than it was in V6, so a focus shift from intent to verifiable data is essential. For temporary lighting, that means a clear construction-phase lighting plan with optics, shielding, dimming and curfews, boundary checks that show spill and glare are controlled, and metered energy paired with simple transport logs for any fuel or charging movements. Off-grid, renewables-powered units make this easier because they run quietly, avoid on-site refuelling, and generate exportable control and energy data. Put these items in the Man 03 file and you move from narrative assurance to auditable performance.
Of course, renewables-powered off-grid lighting also delivers zero on-site emissions, and its metered outputs provide activity data that evidences carbon reductions under PAS 2080. In addition, there’s flexibility to match the resource to the requirement; this principle always improves efficiency. Off-grid lighting deploys without groundworks or cabling, so supervisors can reposition units as site risks move – though it should be remembered that any change should then be recorded in the Man 03 file.
Where off-grid lighting strengthens the submission
The implications for Man 03 are direct and measurable. In summary, off-grid lighting strengthens a Man 03 submission in the following ways:
- Lower neighbourhood impact
Off-grid lighting with optical control focuses light where it is needed and limits glare and skyglow, which helps to demonstrate nuisance minimisation at hoardings, crossings and access points. The quieter operation of renewables-powered lighting also removes the generator drone that typically drives late-evening complaints. Include a concise construction lighting plan that sets out mast locations, optics, shielding, dimming profiles and curfews at sensitive boundaries. Add a nuisance control note that sets out how light and noise are managed and who is accountable on site. - Simpler pollution controls
Removing diesel from the lighting provision equation eliminates routine on-site refuelling and therefore the fuel storage that comes with it. This reduces spill risk and so lessens the control measures required to be evidenced in the pollution-prevention plan. Cross-reference this explicitly in the pollution-prevention plan to show how removing refuelling simplifies controls. - Auditable energy and controls data
Connected off-grid lighting supports remote asset management and dynamic control. This includes exportable logs for on/off states, dimming schedules and metered kWh, so construction-stage energy reporting moves from estimates to dependable data. Set a weekly export routine for energy logs, capturing kWh per unit rather than fuel-use proxies, especially where data connectivity and metering are specified. - Green energy suitable for British weather
Hybrid solar and wind generation maintains runtime through poor-light spells, which stabilises evening operations during winter programmes. - Cleaner logistics footprint
Off-grid units cut fuel delivery trips, and counting avoided deliveries is a simple way to improve your Man 03 transport monitoring, which is easy to standardise across sites. Maintain a straightforward transport record that tallies fuel delivery trips avoided because lighting is off-grid. Keep the count simple and consistent.
Why VentaVolt
Our ReLuminate lighting combines off-grid power with engineered optics and an IoT-ready controller, so sites can minimise disturbance, reduce emissions, and produce evidence that satisfies BREEAM V7 stronger assurance culture.
ReLuminate is designed for exposed outdoor locations and temporary or semi-permanent deployments, which suits compounds, traffic management, car parks and pedestrian interfaces on active projects. Silent, off-grid operation suits security-sensitive or remote assets where fuel logistics and generator noise are unacceptable.
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