Work Package 2 - Project Vision

A sustainable, smart eco-building (SSE-building) results from the practical application, at all phases of the project of the general principles of sustainability
set out in ISO 15392:2008. These general principles need to be applied all along the decision making process (planning, design, construction,
operation, renovation, end of life), and more specifically in project planning phases, associated with the building life cycle.

An SSE-building is a new or a renovated building designed as an answer to the needs expressed by the owner and/or future user, for fulfilling its main use functions. An SSE building contributes to sustainable development when designed and operated to match the appropriate fitness for use, with
minimum adverse environmental impacts, while encouraging improvements in economic, social and cultural aspects at local, regional and global levels.

More precisely, an SSE-building:

• Results from a decision to build (or to refurbish) at a chosen location taken in sympathy with the needs and the specific conditions of the close natural and built environment and as the result of a dialogue between all the interested parties.
• Is designed from a life cycle perspective, from the environmental, economic, and social points of view, anticipating at the design phase the
  consequences of the choices made at each phase of the project, especially when technical and/or process innovations are required.
• Is established with consideration of its economic and cultural value over time.
• Is erected in acceptable construction conditions, including limited resource consumption (energy and materials), embodied energy, site energy consumption, and waste; with careful environmental management of the construction site and working conditions.
• Fulfils the use functions (see above) with minimized energy consumption for the purposes of heating and cooling, lighting, hot water production, operation of appliances or other equipment, minimized waste production, and minimum operating complexity and cost, for the whole required service life, including the required maintenance and repair procedures.
• Provides monitored and traceable technical and environmental performances, thanks to the responsible behaviour of owners, operation
  managers and users.
• Comes with a user and operation manual in a format suitable for use by the building operators.
• Is integrated into local networks and urban life: accessible for all, safe and secure, close to local public transport, consistent with new
  information technologies, with nearby services, and with low impacts on the environment
• Permits and ensures refurbishing, retrofitting and adaptation: adaptable for changing performance requirements, for changing capacity and for different uses.
• Facilitates re-use through ease of demolition or dismantling, opportunities for materials recycling and site restoration.

According to local conditions (geography, climate, culture, density, etc.), the concretisation of the SSEbuilding may show different shapes. The above aspects may be documented with quantified targets only when defined in detail and for specific categories of buildings.

All these aspects are part of the overall vision. This vision is established on the basis of consensual scenario hypothesis for the 5 influencing factors which are: fuel and raw materials cost perspective, demography, climatic changes, public awareness, and political strength.

Read moreabout the vision in CIB Newsletter 1 and 2.