Environmental and health related criteria for buildings - ANEC
Environmental and health related criteria for buildings - ANEC
Environmental and health related criteria for buildings - ANEC
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IBO - <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>and</strong> Health <strong>related</strong> Criteria <strong>for</strong> Buildings<br />
3.4. Scope<br />
The assessment methodology focuses on new-built projects <strong>for</strong> residential purposes.<br />
Existing <strong>buildings</strong>, <strong>buildings</strong> with major refurbishments as well as other building types<br />
(commercial <strong>buildings</strong>, education, <strong>health</strong>-care, etc.) are excluded from this report, although<br />
they are very important <strong>for</strong> sustainable development. The intention of the restriction is to<br />
prove the feasibility of the approach chosen. Nevertheless, the results of the study are<br />
expected to be applicable to all kinds of <strong>buildings</strong> in principle.<br />
The existing building assessment systems were screened with respect to small <strong>buildings</strong>,<br />
complex building assets were not be taken into account.<br />
The construction site was included in the assessment (but not the surroundings/infrastructure<br />
of the site).<br />
The scope of the study is restricted to environmental <strong>and</strong> <strong>health</strong>-<strong>related</strong> indicators. Except<br />
<strong>health</strong>-<strong>related</strong> indicators, other social indicators such as social <strong>and</strong> equal rights, accessibility<br />
or employee attitude were not taken into account.<br />
Definition of “indicator” in the context of this study<br />
Indicators are objectively verifiable <strong>and</strong> repeatable measures of a particular criterion. They<br />
tell us whether (or how far) the objectives have been achieved. One can distinguish between<br />
quantifiable <strong>and</strong> qualitative indicators.<br />
a) Quantitative indicators measure numerical values, e.g. primary energy.<br />
b) Qualitative indicators measure in<strong>for</strong>mation which is not easily measured through<br />
numerical values such as process-<strong>related</strong> improvements, <strong>and</strong> quality of services,<br />
policies or capacity. Qualitative indicators usually need additional <strong>criteria</strong>. For<br />
example, if an intended result is to provide “high-value urban open space”, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
indicator on building level is the “quality of the green space planning”, partners will<br />
have to agree be<strong>for</strong>eh<strong>and</strong> on the <strong>criteria</strong> <strong>for</strong> determining a quality process. These<br />
<strong>criteria</strong> will often be country-specific, <strong>and</strong> once agreed, they can be used in a simple<br />
monitoring checklist (UNDG, 2006 presumably).<br />
Side note: Qualitative indicators are sometimes defined in a broader sense as<br />
indicators that “cannot be counted but must be described, analysed <strong>and</strong> perceived.<br />
This can be done through, <strong>for</strong> example, interviews, role plays, art <strong>and</strong> drama 9 ”. To the<br />
authors’ point of view these non-measurable indicators are <strong>criteria</strong> rather than<br />
indicators.<br />
On contrary to the harmonisation activities of CEN/TC 350 “Sustainability of Construction<br />
Works”, which limits its scope to quantifiable environmental in<strong>for</strong>mation (mainly LCAindicators),<br />
the study at h<strong>and</strong> considers also measureable qualitative indicators (e.g.<br />
measurements to reduce dust from construction work, quality of green space, compliance<br />
with product eco-label <strong>criteria</strong>, etc.) since this is the well-established praxis in building<br />
assessment systems. To the authors’ <strong>and</strong> commissioners’ point of view, in many cases the<br />
qualitative indicators are the more relevant indicators <strong>for</strong> describing the environmental<br />
per<strong>for</strong>mance of <strong>buildings</strong>.<br />
9 e.g. http://www.sais-jhu.edu/cmtoolkit/issues-in-practice/evaluation/evaluating-change.htm, DL 15.02.2011<br />
Final Report 19 31 03 2011