Level(s)
In brief
Level(s) is a voluntary building assessment framework developed by the European Commission to improve the sustainability of buildings. Using existing standards, Level(s) provides a common EU approach to the assessment of environmental performance in the built environment.
The framework provides a set of indicators that anyone interested in assessing a building project can use – including for public procurement and commercial schemes. The framework is based on six macro-objectives, for each of which indicators are specified:
- Greenhouse gas emissions along the life cycle, including energy consumption in use phase of the building and embodied energy
- Resource efficient materials life cycle
- Efficient use of water resources
- Healthy and comfortable spaces
- Climate change resilience and adaptation
- Cost and value optimised over the whole life (life-cycle cost)
Our view
One important aspect for the cement and concrete industry is the fact that, for a building to be sustainable, a balance between social, economic and environmental measures needs to be maintained over the whole life of the building. For this reason, assessment over a broad suite of indicators, at the building level, is the most appropriate approach.
Level(s) is a transparent and fair system based on real life-cycle analysis (LCA), relying on existing standards such as those developed by CEN/TC 350. CEMBUREAU has piloted Level(s) and believes it is a powerful tool for optimising the whole life sustainability performance of buildings. CEMBUREAU welcomes Level(s)' way into the EU legislation and sustainable building labelling systems.
Arup study
In brief
Whilst most emissions from buildings comes from the energy used during their lifetime, construction materials also account for a sizable share of buildings emissions. Reducing these “embodied” emissions in new buildings is therefore important. The study, conducted by the leading engineering company ARUP, looks at reducing embodied emissions from concrete in new buildings, and provides several recommendations to the design community and construction supply chain.
The significant savings in embodied CO2 of structures are possible through modifications to current practices in structural design and concrete specification. A hierarchy for more sustainable design has been adopted to apply levers and identify their relative benefit, e.g., by reducing material volumes through leaner designs in frame selection, and optimising the embodied concrete specification requirements (i.e., least impact concrete for least impact design).
Depending on scenarios, modifications to current practices in building design and constructions could lead to 40-55% CO2 emissions reduction arising from concrete use in residential buildings, and 29-61% for office buildings.
The Arup study does not prejudge any reduction of cement sales at global or EU level, where our sector foresees a constant growth, due to the role cement and concrete play to tackle both climate change mitigation (renewable energy, public transport infrastructure, sustainable housing) and adaptation.
In a context marked by the new EU policies in buildings (EU Energy Performance in Buildings Directive, Construction Product Regulation, EU Whole life-carbon roadmap), the study highlights the importance of design techniques in reducing CO2 emissions from buildings. It also stresses that an optimised use of concrete further lower its carbon footprint – without altering the key benefits of concrete in terms of durability, energy efficiency, safety, and accessibility. CEMBUREAU stands ready to engage with stakeholders on the study and its content.
Our view
The Arup study demonstrates that application of efficient design, appropriate frame selection and use of better concrete mixes in buildings offer considerable CO2 savings – all achievable using existing technologies. In a short timeframe, new European buildings could see a massive reduction of their carbon footprint through an optimised use of concrete. The study is technical and primarily addressed to the design community, but policymakers can support its findings through different ways.
It firmly positions cement and concrete as the construction material of choice to decarbonise European buildings, both for today and tomorrow. It also demonstrates the enormous potential of applying a whole-life carbon approach to new buildings, and the emissions savings that could be achieved in the short-term. It is urgent that policymakers adopt a material-neutral approach to decarbonising buildings, based on full lifecycle of construction products.