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The Appraisal. A Sustainable System.
This practice-based quality seal takes account of every aspect of sustainable building, setting standards that can be measured and compared.
For real estate to be appraised as regards its sustainability for the very first time in Switzerland, a suitable method is required. This method views sustainable building as a comprehensive system that focuses on people. Accordingly, one of the key factors in the appraisal is whether basic supplies and the mix of usage types in the district reach the desired rates, and whether a building has good access to public transport. There should also be a harmonious balance between the well-being of the individual users, the social benefits, and a conscientious approach to resources, as well as long-term profitability prospects.
Five Aspects of Sustainability
Ecological, economic, and social aspects of sustainability are grouped around the core of this innovative evaluation system. A total of 35 criteria are rated; they are grouped together into five aspects (or dimensions) (see chart on page 11). They represent the key areas that determine the sustainability of a building. These are: utilization, infrastructure, energy, materials, and life cycle.
The highest weighting is given to the usage and infrastructure aspects with nine criteria each; the materials aspect has seven criteria, and there are five criteria each for energy and the life cycle. When considering these 35 criteria according to their relevance for society, the environment, and economic activity, the distribution (in that order) is: 43%, 37%, and 20%.
Aspects and criteria
Over 80 Indicators
A total of 86 indicators are assigned to the qualitative and quantitative criteria so that sustainability can be measured. Indicators may either be met, partially met, or not met at all. The results are subsumed and displayed in a clear spider diagram as levels of compliance for the five aspects. This straightforward illustration shows whether or not a building meets the requirements for the individual aspects, and it reveals the building’s strong and weak points in terms of sustainability.
The pioneering greenproperty method assesses properties on a differentiated, integral, and objective basis. As such, the seal sets higher standards than any assessment method previously used in Switzerland.
Sustainability concepts should take account of future social, technical, and economic developments, so the appraisal system is kept flexible by means of the annual review and adaptation to new standards as appropriate. These features mean that the system itself is sustainable.
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