Level(s) is an assessment and reporting tool for improving the sustainability performance of buildings. It’s firmly based on circularity and provides a common language for the building transformation process in line with the European Union’s sustainability initiatives.
The following summary presents examples of how Level(s) interacts with global and other EU sustainability initiatives.
Level(s) contributes to several of these goals, especially SDG13 Climate Action and SDG11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Level(s) provides the bridge between the ambition of the European Green Deal initiative on sustainable buildings and the realities of professional building operations within the EU.
Level(s) helps understanding the full life cycle of a building and brings the circular economy into building design and use.
The Level(s) framework for sustainability performance assessments has inspired and supported the revision of this Directive to mandate the assessment of Whole Life Carbon for new buildings.
The Level(s) framework for sustainability performance assessments has inspired and supported the revision of this Directive to include the assessment of Whole Life Carbon for the procurement of public buildings.
Level(s) is the basis for the revised GPP Criteria for buildings, to be published in the coming months. These criteria will be expanded to cover schools and social housing, and will pay particular attention to renovation.
Level(s) guides part of the technical screening criteria used to identify buildings for sustainable finance.
International sustainability certification tools are aligning their schemes to Level(s), ensuring common EU policy objectives are integrated.
Level(s) enables those using this framework to report under sustainable frameworks such as the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB)
By adopting Level(s) to assess and monitor the sustainability performance of buildings, practitioners can contribute to the New European Bauhaus agenda in the areas of the EU climate goals, circularity and healthy and comfortable spaces.
Level(s) is based on six macro-objectives that address key sustainability aspects over the building life cycle.
These objectives can be tracked using sixteen indicators.The indicators describe how a building's performance can be aligned with EU policy objectives in areas such as energy, material use and waste, water, indoor air quality and resilience to climate change.
Now let's explore what each macro-objective and indicator entails:
1. Greenhouse gas emissions along a buildings life cycleMinimise the whole life carbon output, considering both energy consumption during the use phase of the building and embodied energy.
Indicators:
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 cyclesOptimise the building design to support lean and circular flows.
Indicators:
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 resourcesUse water efficiently, particularly in areas of identified long-term or projected water stress.
Indicators:
3.1 Use stage water consumption (m3/occupant/yr)
4. Healthy and comfortable spacesCreate buildings that are comfortable, attractive and productive, focusing on four aspects of quality in the indoor environment.
Indicators:
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 changeFutureproof building performance against a changing climate and extreme weather.
Indicators:
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 valueTake a long term view of the whole life costs and market value to deliver more sustainable buildings.
Indicators:
6.1 Life cycle costs (€/m²/yr)
6.2 Value creation and risk factors
Tip! Read the following factsheets to find out more about specific Level(s) indicators and how built environment sector experts and practitioners are using them:
How do I work with Level(s)?
Level(s) can be applied at each stage of a building´s life cycle:
- Setting objectives at concept stage
- Assess performance at design and construction
- Follow up after completion
Level 1 – Conceptual designEarly stage qualitative assessments and reporting on the concepts that the chosen indicators will cover. It provides a simple structure that can be presented to clients to prioritise attention on sustainability aspects.
Level 2 – Detailed design and constructionQuantitative assessment of the designed performance. Allowing comparison between different design options and monitoring of the construction according to standardised units and methods.
Level 3 – As-built and in-useMonitoring and surveying of activity both on the construction site and of the completed building and its first occupants. Level 3 helps the entire team understand actual building performance and identify lessons learned from the design to inform and improve future projects.
A project team decides which objectives to focus on, which indicators
to work with and finally, at what level.
Get started!
- Before you start using Level(s) we recommend you check out our overview showing how Level(s) benefits different types of building professionals.
- Next, check out our eLearning programme to learn how to use Level(s) in your working environment.
- Once you understand the basics, you can download the user manuals and put Level(s) into practice on your next building project!