The Irish Green Building Council plays an active role in the formation of European Policy through the European Network of Green Building Councils.
Our European policy manifesto outlines the key policy and regulatory changes that European leaders must endorse and champion to achieve a climate neutral Europe by 2050.
Here are some of the specific areas where the IGBC is actively engaging.
- EU framework’ for building assessment
The European Commission’s recent ‘Communication on Resource Efficiency in the Building Sector’ contains the first major proposals to move the buildings agenda at EU level beyond energy performance, towards a wider range of life cycle impacts.
IGBC has been highly involved in developing Level(s), the EU’s circular economy framework for sustainable buildings. IGBC organised workshops in Dublin in 2014 and 2018 to input into the framework development, and provided direct input to EU commission on indicators. IGBC is now supporting the use of 3 specific Level(s) indicators: Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Costing and Indoor Air Quality.
- Nearly zero-energy buildings
Europe is on the pathway towards nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEBs). The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive recast (EPBD) requires Member States to ensure that by 31 December 2020, all new buildings are nearly-zero energy buildings; and after 31 December 2018, new buildings occupied and owned by public authorities are nearly zero-energy buildings. Read more.
- Energy Performance of Buildings Directive – National Renovation Strategies
Under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), each member state must develop and implement a Long Term National Renovation Strategy. In 2016-17, the IGBC worked in close cooperation with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment to co-design an ambitious National Renovation Strategy for Ireland. IGBC is now working on a number of projects to support the development of the next version of the strategy – due in March 2020, and its implementation. Read more.
- Green Public Procurement
Green Public Procurement is an voluntary EU initiative to encourage member state governments to integrate sustainability criteria into their procurement processes. EU released draft guidance documents on this in December 2014.
- Green Financial Structures and Incentives
European governments and industry are creating an increasing number of innovative mechanisms to support the move towards green buildings, in part driven by requirements in EU legislation. Continued innovation in this area will be key to unlocking the potential of green buildings.
