Classification and certification Flashcards
What are the requirements for EU-Taxonomy compliance?
For Taxonomy compliance one must choose to contribute significantly to one environmental
objective, while also complying with all the defined “Do No Significant Harm” criteria for the other
environmental objectives and the minimum safeguard requirements.
What is the EU Taxonomy and what is its purpose?
The EU Taxonomy is a classification system, establishing a list of environmentally sustainable economic activities
It is intended (avsedd) as an instrument for the EU to scale up sustainable investment and implement the European green deal.
The EU taxonomy would provide companies, investors and policymakers with appropriate definitions for which economic activities can be considered environmentally sustainable.
Thus, it is intended to create security for investors, protect private investors from greenwashing, help companies to become more climate-friendly, mitigate market fragmentation and help shift investments where they are most needed.
Describe some key actions/policies included in the European Green Deal.
EU Green Deal Actions
A European Climate Law to turn the goal of climate neutrality into a legal obligation in legislation
The 2030 Climate Target Plan is an EU agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, setting Europe on a responsible path to bedoming climate neutral by 2050
Fit for 55 is a package of legislative proposals to help the EU reach its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030
The Circular Economy Action Plan, the Renivation Wave and Industrial Policy focus on delivering more responsible consumption and production behaviors
Renovation Wave-aims to “at least double or even triple” the renovation rate of buildings, which current stands at around 1%.
EU Green Deal Policies
Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
Construction Product Regulation
Sustainable finance
Public procurement
Waste Framework Directive
Describe the terms “Embodied Carbon” and “Operational Carbon Emissions” as relevant to buildings. Discuss why both carbon categories are important.
Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions arising from the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials. Embodied carbon is a significant percentage of global emissions and requires urgent action to address it.
Operational carbon refers to ‘the emissions associated with energy used to operate the building or in the operation of infrastructure’, including heating, hot water, cooling, ventilation, lighting systems, equipment and lifts.
Embodied carbon is more difficult to measure and track than operational carbon, which is also the reason why it is more difficult to effectively regulate.
Describe the LEED requirements for daylighting.
LEED provides guidelines and requirements to promote sustainable practices, including those related to daylighting.
Option 1: Daylight
Compliance: Provide a minimum daylight factor (DF) or illuminance level in regularly occupied spaces.
Requirements: Compliance is achieved by meeting specific DF or illuminance levels based on space type. The values vary for spaces like offices, classrooms, and living areas.
Option 2: Daylight Verification
Compliance: Achieve compliance with Option 1 or conduct a post-occupancy measurement of daylighting performance.
Requirements: Conduct post-occupancy measurements of daylight factors or illuminance levels in regularly occupied spaces, comparing the actual performance with the predicted values.
Option 3: Prescriptive Compliance Path for Core-and-Shell Projects
Compliance: Follow the prescriptive requirements for core-and-shell projects.
Requirements: This option provides specific prescriptive requirements for glazing and shading properties based on the building’s orientation and location.
What is Level(s)? Describe its purpose and significance for the EU building sector.
Level(s) is a European framework for assessing and promoting the sustainability of buildings in the European Union (EU). It uses indicators like energy use, resource efficiency, water consumption, and indoor air quality. The aim is to encourage sustainable building practices and make it easier to compare buildings across Europe. Its purpose is to provide a standardized approach to evaluating the environmental performance of buildings throughout their life cycle.
