EU-project OPEN HOUSE: Benchmarking and mainstreaming building sustainability in the EU based on transparency and openness

Paper in proceeding, 2012

This paper is about the development of the new European building assessment methodology OPEN HOUSE. Central in the OPEN HOUSE concept are transparency and collective development in an open way across the EU. The process to develop the OPEN HOUSE assessment methodology for the planning and construction of sustainable buildings consists of the following main steps: 1. Assessment of methodologies, normative, standards and guidelines for sustainability of buildings at national, European and international level 2. First set of recommendations for standardisation for the baseline 3. Definition of indicators, sustainability performance levels and procedures to evaluate them 4. Development of the OPEN HOUSE baseline Nineteen partners from eleven EU-countries participated in the development of the OPEN HOUSE methodology. The basis for the new methodology is already existing standards as well as other European and international assessment methods.