Sustainable construction

According to a full interpretation, sustainable building can be described as the search for buildings that provide a balance of the three following perspectives:

• environmental perspective
• social perspective
• economic perspective

According to this approach, in order to be considered sustainable, buildings must not only be energy efficient or constructed using recycled materials, but also be healthy and comfortable on the inside, as well as being safe and accessible. Costs associated with the construction, maintenance and the building’s life cycle ultimately play an important role.

Furthermore, for ecobuild.brussels, the idea and the realisation of a sustainable construction project draws on a holistic approach, bringing together a reflection on the 9 themes of Le Guide Bâtiment Durable de Bruxelles Environnement (Brussels Environment Sustainable Construction Guide).

The goal is to be able to assess the sustainability of a business or project via a “Belgian sustainable building” reference framework.

1. Managing the project, construction site, building: To organise your project’s sustainable management, from construction site to building maintenance.
2. Mobility: To encourage multimodal and sustainable mobility.
3. Developing nature: To integrate nature into the site and improve urban living conditions.
4. Physical environment: To limit the impact of the building on its surroundings.
5. Human environment: To encourage social interaction and guarantee housing accessibility for everyone.
6. Materials: To select materials that limit the building’s environmental impact throughout its life cycle.
7. Energy: To achieve the highest possible energy performance.
8. Water: To optimise water management.
9. Wellbeing, Comfort & Health: To ensure acoustic, thermal, visual and respiratory comfort.