accessible data, we would be much further along than we are. With data, we can convince more people of the importance and urgency of sustainable construction. What is Level(s) and how does it impact sustainable construction? Level(s) is a common EU framework for the assessment and reporting of the environmental performance of buildings. It doesn't magically generate data, but its use will support the generation of comparable data. We felt that we needed something we could use as a basis for sustainability. For individual building projects, to help them go forward in a sustainable way. But also for policymakers, to really bring these environmental aspects to the fore. Level(s) uses a number of indicators, including aspects such as whole life carbon and embodied carbon. It applies to both renovation and construction projects and looks at things like water use, indoor air quality, thermal comfort, life cycle costing, and resilience to climate change. We’re aware that Level(s) has inspired public procurement initiatives, including programs for the sustainable renovation of social housing in the Piedmont and Calabria regions in Italy. Via the €100 million programs – funded through the EU structural funds – more than 300 buildings were certified and more than 1,000 professionals trained on the sustainability concept. Many public procurers took part in the test phase of Level(s), with very good results, and the Commission is currently working to revise the suggested Green Public Procurement criteria, so they’re firmly based on the Level(s) framework. We hope to have this ready by the end of 2023. Another argument? Imagine that a building is constructed to be carbon neutral and futureproof to climate change. If, on top of this, it’s adaptable, flexible, easy to renovate and easy to deconstruct, it does become cheaper. It’s beneficial in terms of cost, and for the environment. It will mean lower bills, because of lower consumption of energy and water. A sustainable project would use much less embodied energy and carbon in its construction than a traditional project. The benefits would easily outweigh any downsides. Futureproofing buildings should be important for any investor or developer as mortgages and insurance are likely to be impacted by sustainability performance with lower interest rates and premiums. Sustainable construction might be more costly in the short term. But in the longer or medium term, it typically has a lower cost. What role can the European Commission play? The European Commission is working on bringing broader life cycle thinking into policies like the energy performance of buildings directive. (The directive promotes policies that aim for highly energy efficient and decarbonized building stock by 2050, and the creation of a stable investment environment.) We’re [also looking to] work with cities. Supporting green public procurement is key, but we must accept that not all public procurers have the same knowledge. Public procurers can learn from each other, but the Commission can also support them by pointing them to the most important public procurement criteria. For private investors, the Commission is developing a sustainable finance taxonomy initiative for those interested in defining their investments as sustainable. The taxonomy has been developed with different prospective sectors, so once it’s adopted it will be seen as reliable and credible. Lack of understanding is hampering adoption of sustainable construction. If we had nice, compatible, 77 CONSTRUCTING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTA2Nw==