How does Level(s) work?

Level(s) is based on six macro-objectives. These can be tracked through sixteen indicators.

The Level(s) common framework is based on six macro-objectives that address key sustainability aspects over the building life cycle. The sustainability indicators within each macro-objective describe how the building performance can be aligned with the strategic EU policy objectives in areas such as energy, material use and waste, water, indoor air quality and resilience to climate change. Below you can discover what each entails:

		Indicators
1. Greenhouse gas emissions along a buildings life cycle	Minimize the whole life carbon output, consider both energy consumption during the use phase of the building and embodied energy.	1.1 Use stage energy performance (kWh/m²/yr) 1.2 Life cycle Global Warming Potential (CO₂ eq./m²/yr)
2. Resource efficient and circular material life cycles	Optimize the building design to support lean and circular flows, including: Building materials use and quantities Minimize construction and demolition waste generated to optimize material use Replacement cycles and flexibility to adapt to change Potential for deconstruction as opposed to demolition	2.1 Bill of quantities, materials and lifespans 2.2 Construction & Demolition waste and materials 2.3 Design for adaptability and renovation 2.4 Design for deconstruction, reuse and recycling
3. Efficient use of water resources	Use water efficiently, particularly in areas of identified long-term or projected water stress.	3.1 Use stage water consumption (m³/occupant/yr)
4. Healthy and comfortable spaces	Create buildings that are comfortable, attractive and productive. This includes four aspects of the quality of the indoor environmental quality: The indoor air for specific parameters and pollutants The degree of thermal comfort The quality of artificial and natural light and associated visual comfort The capacity of the building fabric to insulate occupiers from internal and external sources of noise	4.1 Indoor air quality 4.2 Time outside of thermal comfort range 4.3 Lighting and visual comfort 4.4 Acoustics and protection against noise
5. Adaption and resilience to climate change	Futureproof building performance: Adapt to changes of future climate impacting on thermal comfort Make the building more resilient and resistant to extreme weather events (including flooding: fluvial, pluvial and coastal). Improve the building design to reduce the chances of pluvial/fluvial flood events in the local area (i.e. increasing sustainable drainage).	5.1 Protection of occupier health and thermal comfort 5.2 Increased risk of extreme weather 5.3 Sustainable drainage
6. Optimised life cycle cost and value	Long term view of the whole life costs and market value of more sustainable buildings, including: Life cycle costs (construction, operation, maintenance, refurbishment and disposal). Encourage the integration of sustainability aspects into market value assessment and risk rating processes and ensure that this is done as informed and transparent as possible.	6.1 Life cycle costs (€/m²/yr) 6.2 Value creation and risk factors

Useful reading

Find out more about the Level(s) indicators and how built-environment sector experts and practitioners are using them.

Level(s): Putting circularity into practice

Level(s): Putting whole life carbon into practice