What Is Level(s) And How Is It Implemented In Sphere Sotogrande?

We are living in a time of transition within the field of construction and it is increasingly paramount to focus on sustainability. This means introducing into mainstream concepts such as the circular economy or the life-cycle of buildings, which help us to better understand the impact that construction has both on the environment and on the health of those who live within.

A key tool to achieve sustainable building construction across the European Union, the European Level(s) framework is an initiative developed by the European Commission with a view to promoting sustainable construction in the building sector. Its main objective is to standardise and align all stakeholders involved in the construction industry by using a common and shared language to improve building performance.

Level(s) addresses the potential for buildings to reduce emissions, establish efficient circular resource flows, and promote the health and well-being of occupants. Through a comprehensive analysis of the life-cycle of buildings, this framework provides a comprehensive view of their environmental, social and economic impact.

One of the strengths of this framework lies in its ability to bring together various players in the construction industry across Europe. This means they are involved in the entire process—from planning and design to construction and building management—, and work collaboratively to create a sustainable built environment.

How Does Level(s) Work? The Pillars Of The European Framework

Level(s) is based on a number of key indicators that make it possible to assess the environmental performance of buildings throughout their life-cycle. Such indicators cover aspects such as energy efficiency, resource use, greenhouse gas emissions, indoor air quality and occupant comfort.

The Level(s) framework is based on six main macro categories that address different aspects of sustainability in construction. Each main macro category is further divided into multiple indicators. These indicators are also categorised according to 3 broad thematic areas: environmental performance throughout the life-cycle, health and comfort, and cost value and risk.

1. Greenhouse gas emissions. This refers to the building’s energy consumption, including heating, cooling, lighting and renewable energy systems.

2. Life-cycle of materials. This focuses on the life-cycle of materials used in construction, and encourages the use of sustainable materials, waste reduction and the circular economy.

3. Efficient use of water resources. It assesses the management and responsible consumption of water, and promotes cost-saving and water reuse measures.

4. Healthy and comfortable spaces. It considers indoor air quality, natural lighting, thermal and acoustic comfort, as well as the health and well-being of occupants.

5. Adaptation and resilience to climate change. This relates to the capacity of buildings to face the impacts of climate change, such as the increase in temperatures, floods or droughts.

6. Optimisation of life-cycle cost and value. This takes account of the durability of the building, its flexibility to adapt to future uses, and the relationship between environmental performance and construction and operating costs.

From Design To Occupancy – A Framework For The Entire Life Of The Property

The Level(s) framework is developed in several stages for the proper assessment of the building’s life.

• Design phase. Indicators at blueprint stage are based on previous calculations of the building’s behaviour, that is, on a hypothesis that makes it possible to adapt the geometry and select materials based on its specifications. This is above all an analysis in qualitative terms.

• Development phase. Assessment of the building’s behaviour at this stage becomes more accurate and includes corrections to previous calculations given the fact that it is based on the floor plans according to construction—i.e. the set of floor plans that are redrawn once the works are completed in order to compare them with the original floor plans, where slight changes to the geometry can be made or the actual performance of certain materials can be assessed. Hence, at this stage, it is already possible to quantify the performance of the building design using the common measurement units and the reference calculation methods set forth by the Level(s) framework.

• Occupancy phase. Throughout the occupancy phase—i.e. the only period of the building’s useful life in which it serves the purpose for which it was designed—it is key to take account of consumption and performance in order to measure the actual behaviour depending on the climatic seasons. This is considered a sampling period. Thus, data is collected in order to monitor the building’s actual behaviour.

• Post-occupancy phase. Once the period of use has ended, with all the data collected over the years, it is possible to develop a measured behaviour basis which will take account of the time factor, maintenance, and occupant flow, among others.

Level(s) 3 At Sphere Sotogrande

The first residential project in Spain with life-cycle analysis, Sphere Sotogrande is poised to secure a Level 3 under the Level(s) framework, since it will continue to measure the project’s performance once its 30 residences are handed over and occupied.

This is a firm commitment that Sphere makes both to residents and to the wider society in an attempt to take a clear objective to the maximum level of excellence: taking care of the environment while taking care of people’s health.

Designing and building under the European Level(s) framework means carefully considering in detail all the processes linked to the creation of the project in order to reduce emissions, make optimal use of the environmental resources, and improve efficiency. The benefits directly impact on the health of the people who live in such a residential scheme.