CCPA
California regulation for consumer personal data privacy rights
BREEAM
Global sustainability certification for built environments
Quick Verdict
CCPA mandates data privacy rights for California businesses handling resident data, enforced by fines. BREEAM voluntarily certifies sustainable buildings via credits and audits. Companies adopt CCPA for legal compliance, BREEAM for ESG value, market premiums, and efficiency.
CCPA
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
Key Features
- Grants consumers rights to know, delete, opt-out, correct personal data
- Applies to businesses over $25M revenue or 100K CA consumers/devices
- Mandates Global Privacy Control signals and Do Not Sell links
- Imposes $7,500 fines per intentional violation by CPPA
- Private right of action for data breach victims
BREEAM
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
Key Features
- Credit-based scoring with category weightings
- Third-party certification by licensed assessors
- 10 core sustainability categories including energy
- Scheme-specific for new-build, in-use, infrastructure
- Knowledge Base updates and regional adaptations
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
CCPA Details
What It Is
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by CPRA, is a California state regulation establishing consumer privacy rights. It applies to for-profit businesses meeting thresholds like $25M revenue or handling 100K+ CA residents' data. Primary purpose: empower consumers with control over personal information (PI) via rights-based approach, including opt-out of sales/sharing.
Key Components
- Consumer rights: know/access, delete, correct, opt-out sales/sharing, limit sensitive PI.
- Obligations: notices at collection, privacy policies, DSAR handling within 45 days, GPC honoring.
- Enforcement by CPPA and AG with $2,500-$7,500 per violation fines; private breach actions.
- No certification; compliance via documented practices, audits.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandatory for qualifying businesses to avoid fines, litigation. Drives data governance, risk reduction, trust-building. Strategic benefits: efficiency, market differentiation, GDPR alignment.
Implementation Overview
Phased: scoping/gap analysis (0-3 months), policies/contracts (1-4 months), technical controls (2-6 months), operationalization/training, audits. Targets enterprises in tech/retail/finance with CA ties; requires cross-functional teams, automation tools.
BREEAM Details
What It Is
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a science-led sustainability certification framework for the built environment. Developed by BRE in 1990, it assesses environmental, social, and resilience performance across buildings, infrastructure, and communities throughout their lifecycle. Its credit-based methodology converts performance into weighted scores and ratings (Pass to Outstanding).
Key Components
- **10 core categoriesManagement, Health & Wellbeing, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land Use & Ecology, Pollution, Innovation.
- Hundreds of credits with prerequisites, evidence requirements, and weightings prioritizing high-impact areas like energy.
- Built on third-party assurance via licensed assessors and BRE audits (ISO/IEC 17065 accredited).
- Scheme-specific manuals and KBCNs for continuous updates.
Why Organizations Use It
- Drives operational savings (e.g., 22-33% energy reduction), asset value uplift (up to 30%), and ESG credibility.
- Meets planning incentives, investor demands, and EU Taxonomy alignment.
- Mitigates climate risks and enhances occupant health/productivity.
- Builds stakeholder trust through verified ratings.
Implementation Overview
- **Phased approachPre-assessment, design integration, construction evidence, certification.
- Involves early assessor/AP appointment, evidence management, training.
- Applies to all sizes/industries globally, with regional adaptations.
- Requires BRE certification post-QA.
Key Differences
| Aspect | CCPA | BREEAM |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Consumer data privacy rights and obligations | Building sustainability and environmental performance |
| Industry | All businesses handling CA resident data | Construction, real estate, infrastructure globally |
| Nature | Mandatory state regulation with enforcement | Voluntary third-party certification scheme |
| Testing | Consumer request handling, security audits | Assessor-led credit assessments, BRE audits |
| Penalties | $2,500-$7,500 per violation, private actions | No fines, loss of certification only |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about CCPA and BREEAM
CCPA FAQ
BREEAM FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

CIS Controls v8.1 for Cloud & SaaS: A Practical Safeguard Playbook for AWS/Azure/GCP and Microsoft 365
Turn CIS Controls v8.1 into a cloud-first playbook for AWS, Azure, GCP & Microsoft 365. Get actionable IaaS/PaaS/SaaS safeguards, automation patterns, evidence

From SOC to AI-Native CDC: Redefining Triage and Response in 2026
Explore the shift from SOCs to AI-Native CDCs. Autonomous agents handle Tier 1 triage in 2026, empowering analysts for complex threats. Discover the future of c

NIST CSF 2.0 Plain English Decoder: Translating Govern, Supply Chain, and Core Functions from Jargon to Actionable Insights
Demystify NIST CSF 2.0 jargon with plain English tables for Govern, Supply Chain & Core Functions. Actionable steps for risk oversight & vendor management. Empo
Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM
Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform
Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.
Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages
CSL (Cyber Security Law of China) vs LGPD
Discover CSL vs LGPD: China's data localization & CII mandates vs Brazil's GDPR-like rights, DPO & 2% fines. Master global compliance strategies now!
EPA vs ISO 55001
Discover EPA vs ISO 55001: Compare U.S. environmental regs (CAA, CWA, RCRA) with asset mgmt excellence. Balance compliance, risks & lifecycle value—optimize now!
PIPL vs ISO 14064
Discover PIPL vs ISO 14064: China's data privacy law meets global GHG standards. Expert comparison of compliance, pitfalls, strategies & frameworks to excel. (152 characters)