Level(s) – A common EU framework of core sustainability indicators for office and residential buildings: Parts 1 and 2: Introduction to Level(s) and how it works (Beta v1.0)

Developed as a common EU framework of core indicators for the sustainability of office and residential buildings, Level (s) provides a set of indicators and common metrics for measuring the performance of buildings along their life cycle. As well as environmental performance, which is the main focus, it also enables other important related performance aspects to be assessed using indicators and tools for health and comfort, life cycle cost and potential future risks to performance. (s) aims to provide a general language of sustainability for buildings. This common language should enable actions to be taken at building level that can make a clear contribution to broader European environmental policy objectives. It is structured as follows: 1. -objectives: An overarching set of six macro-objectives for the Level (s) framework that contribute to EU and Member State policy objectives in areas such as energy, material use and waste, water and indoor air quality. 2. Indicators: A set of 9 common indicators for measuring the performance of buildings which contribute to achieving each macro-objective. 3. cycle tools: A set of 4 scenario tools and 1 data collection tool, together with a simplified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, that are designed to support a more holistic analysis of the performance of buildings based on whole life cycle thinking. 4. and risk rating: A checklist and rating system provides information on the potential positive contribution to a property valuation and the underlying reliability of performance assessments made using the Level (s) framework. addition, the Level (s) framework aims to promote life cycle thinking. It guides users from an initial focus on individual aspects of building performance towards a more holistic perspective, with the aim of wider European use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA). 1 provides a general introduction to Level (s). In Part 2 potential users are provided with a basic introduction to all of the elements of the framework, and how it can be used as a whole, or in part, to report on the performance of building projects.