Description

In the late years in Europe only buildings with added value found viability in the building market. For a long time, sustainability has been this differentiating factor that applied to buildings offering the needed consideration inside the market. Public initiatives, especially the European Union, lead the process of obtaining better buildings. In 2002, the EPBD (Energy Performance in Buildings Directive) made the development of national regulations for promoting the reduction of energy used by buildings and the resulting CO2 footprint mandatory. This initiative has not been as successful as desired. Every country developed their own regulation standards setting different levels of what is considered sustainable depending on their own circumstances in respect of the environment, energy resources etc. In some cases these decisions were purely political. These nationally approved methodologies of procuring sustainable buildings may be categorized in many countries as ambiguous, for investors, esigners, constructors and purchasers cannot find reliable and validated criteria for obtaining an effective sustainable building. Furthermore, the voice of the end user is not considered within the process. Involving the user implies putting comfort and well-being at the centre of the process. The need for better spaces must look for healthy spaces and therefore for healthy buildings. Accordingly finding new architectural solutions need innovative design/construction professionals able to offer new approaches and share their expertise.