The MESTRI-CE project aims to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in building practices across Central Europe. Assessment of integration of Level(s) indicators to analysed building frameworks was conducted aimed at enhancing the harmonization and upgrade of building standards across six European countries (Austria, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia). This document represents the third step in achieving the goals in this workpackage, which focuses on evaluating the integration of the Level(s) framework—a set of European sustainability indicators—into national building frameworks.
Key activities within this deliverable include:
- Drafting the MESTRI-CE Sustainable Building Methodology: Creating a preliminary structure that aligns with the Level(s) framework.
- Assessment of Alignment: Evaluating how the Level(s) indicators fit with existing national standards and reporting instruments.
- Identification of Integration Possibilities and Risks: Analyzing potential benefits and challenges of incorporating Level(s) into national regulations.
- Evaluation of Indicators: Focusing particularly on those utilizing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology.
The evaluation of indicators for the design stage revealed the incorporation of Level(s) indicators within national standards and frameworks. Level 1 indicators, which denote common assessment criteria, are widely present across several countries, reflecting efforts to create standardized sustainability assessment methodologies. In contrast, the adoption of Level 2 indicators, which allow for comparative analysis and benchmarking, is less frequent and shows significant differences among countries.
Please find the table of the integration of Level(s) indicators here.
The MESTRI-CE Sustainability Building Methodology (SBM) will focus on key areas such as energy, carbon, materials, and water. For each of these areas, projects will be evaluated on a scale from Vanilla (compliance with standards) to Deep Green (near-zero environmental impact). The upcoming activities will determine the level of compliance for projects based on selected indicators.
Click here for the Draft structure of the MESTSI Sustainable Building Methodology.
The information gathered provides insights into the feasibility and implications of this integration, contributing to the development of a comprehensive sustainability assessment methodology. Ultimately, this deliverable supports the existing building standards by aligning them with the latest European initiatives on energy efficiency and sustainability, thus fostering the design and renovation of climate-neutral and sustainable buildings. The final report on the Assessment of integration of Level(s) indicators to analysed building frameworks is available here.