Green Deal: Commission launches Level(s) – the European Framework for Sustainable Buildings

Today, the European Commission officially launched Level(s) – the European Framework for Sustainable Buildings – closely affiliated with the goals of the European Green Deal for a sustainable building sector, and part of the actions described in the new Circular Economy Action Plan and the Renovation Wave Strategy. It contributes to President von der Leyen‘s initiative of a new European Bauhaus. Level(s) is an important tool to help architects, builders and public authorities play their role by improving the buildings we live, study and work in. Welcoming the initiative, Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, said: “The European Green Deal set our goal – making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 – but this will require innovative ways to cut emissions. We need a functioning circular economy with clean energy at the heart of it. Level(s) is designed to improve the sustainability of buildings throughout their lifecycle, helping professionals deliver better buildings while also speeding Europe’s transition towards a more circular economic model.” Buildings are responsible for 36% of EU’s greenhouse gas emissions from energy, and looking at the whole life cycle, including not only use, but also manufacturing of the construction products, construction and end of life, they consume half of our energy. In addition, the buildings and construction sector consume nearly half of all extracted materials, one third of the water we use and one third of our waste. Level(s) is a framework to help design and construct sustainable buildings with the whole lifecycle in mind. It focuses attention on the most important aspects of a building’s performance, providing a simple entry point to what can be a very complex area. The framework has been developed for use by the various actors taking part in the construction of a building, as well as by those managing assessment and certification schemes to make sure that their criteria reflect the most important priorities for the circular economy at European level. More information is available here.