Finance Sustainable Buildings
Better Environmental High Quality standard accreditations
Circularity
Short term
The introduction of environmental EU high-quality standards through, combined with tax exemptions could be an important incentive to reach a high-level environment, economic and energy performance of buildings while boosting circularity.
The EU standards on circular economy are under development. It is expected that these standards will be launched in 2023 by the Circular Economy in Buildings Committee under the CEN 350/sc1 (Standardization in the field of circular economy in the built environment). In this sense, the introduction of European labels must lead the momentum for establishing a strong secondary raw materials market with tax exemptions for every sustainable-certified building. This initiative could be an important incentive to reach a high-level environment, economic and energy performance of buildings.
Introducing data collection standards and methodological consistency within the real estate market will allow investors and financial institutions for meaningful, impactful analysis over the buildings lifecycle.
Socioeconomic impacts
Study cases showed a high social acceptance and the inclusion of all actors toward improving energy performance of buildings, as well as the use of resource efficiency criteria in the building sector. Besides of the economic incentives, these labels could be also strategic communication, where construction sites display labels and communicate about their environmental management and engagement, circular economy practices and the use of eco-profile products (recycled aggregates, recycled concrete) that reduce environmental impacts in the construction process. These standards will improve the circularity of the building’s materials once a real estate asset reaches its end of life.
Related to
This scheme is related to the concept of circularity. By introducing European labels we are laying the ground for a strong secondary raw materials market. This initiative could be an important incentive to reach a high-level environment, economic and energy performance of buildings.
Study Case: Better Environmental High Quality standard accreditations
MINERGIE LABEL, SWITZERLAND
The Minergie label has been issued for the first time in Switzerland in the 1990s. Since then, it has been developed from a pioneer idea to one of the most climate-conscious building standards in the world. As a Swiss building standard for new and modernised buildings, the brand is jointly supported by the economy, the cantons and the federal government and is protected against misuse. The purpose of Minergie is to increase the valuation of energy-conscious construction that pursues a superior living standard.
The Minergie building standard enjoys broad acceptance. There are many reasons for this, the most important of which is that building owners, architects and planners have complete freedom in the design, choice of materials and internal and external structure of a building.
The Minergie Association is the worldwide owner and authorised user of the Minergie quality mark. It is therefore entitled to defend the various Minergie labels against infringements by third parties. The Minergie quality mark designates and qualifies goods and services that enable the rational use of energy and the widespread use of renewable energies while at the same time improving the quality of life, ensuring competitiveness and reducing environmental pollution. The primary objective of the label is to strengthen public confidence in these goods and services.
