Identifying macro-objectives for the life cycle environmental performance and resource efficiency of EU buildings : working paper 1

This working paper brings together the findings of the first stage of the Resource Efficient Buildings study, which focusses on the identification of 'macro-objectives' for the environmental performance of the EU building stock. This stage is intended to provide an initial 'top down' view of what the strategic priorities (the 'macro-objectives') should be for the building sector. These macro-objectives will in turn inform and set the scope for the identification of a common framework of performance indicators in the next stage of this study. As a conclusion of this work package, two types of macro-objectives have been identified - those relating to 'life cycle environmental performance' and those relating to 'quality, performance and value'. In the short term, six of these macro-objectives are proposed to be taken forward in order to identify related performance indicators at building level which will make up the framework. In the medium to long term, a further set of up to ten macro-objectives have also been identified which may potentially be considered for the identification of performance indicators. Further indicators at the building level could address productive workspaces and liveable and decent homes. The possibility of having indicators at the new-build neighbourhood level (for example, addressing travel patterns, urban pressure on land, green and low carbon infrastructure) and existing building stock level (for example, addressing overall stock performance and space utilisation efficiency) has also been identified.