RE2020: Buildrz gives the keys to promoters

However, properly understood, RE2020 can open up new opportunities for professionals. It is with this objective that Buildrz, a platform which uses artificial intelligence to support the setting up of real estate operations, has just published a guide for developers.

It came into force on January 1, 2022. Since then, it has continued to be talked about. Considered worrying, even obscure for non-specialists, the Environmental Regulations 2020 (RE2020) aims to reduce the environmental footprint of buildings. An objective in tune with the times, while construction represents 23% of French greenhouse gas* (GHG) emissions. Despite everything, RE2020 leads to additional material costs: up to 7% according to the French Building Federation. Additional costs to which must be added an inflationary context on construction costs. The concerns of promoters are therefore very legitimate, between increased environmental requirements and difficulty in balancing projects.

To help them better understand this new regulation, Buildrz, a platform that uses artificial intelligence to support the set-up of real estate operations, has just published a white paper. This “Essential guide for real estate developers” is intended to be the reference tool for mobilizing on RE2020. Because, between facilitated dialogue with communities and better cost control, the opportunities to better negotiate building permits have never been higher for those involved in a rapidly changing profession.

Decarbonization objective!

More ambitious than RT2012, RE2020 pursues one objective: decarbonize buildings.

“After RT2012, RE2020’s mission is to make buildings emit less CO2. She also wants to increase their resilience in the face of climate change. Between new know-how, new materials, habits to shake up… The project is colossal”, analyzes Manuel Verrier, president of Buildrz.

RE2020 comes down to six key indicators:

• bioclimatic needs: heating, cooling and lighting needs;
• total primary energy consumption: renewable and non-renewable energy consumption (heating, cooling, hot water, sanitary, lighting, ventilation and auxiliaries);
• non-renewable primary energy consumption;
• the impact on climate change associated with primary energy consumption: life cycle analysis for the GHG assessment of energy consumed over 50 years;
• the impact on climate change associated with components and the construction site: life cycle analysis for the GHG assessment of construction products and equipment and their implementation;
• the degree-hour of discomfort (level of discomfort perceived by occupants over the entire hot season): evaluation of the differences between building temperature and comfort temperature (between 26 and 28 degrees).

The big news: stronger requirements on the first indicators. But above all – and this is a first – an analysis of the life cycle of each of the materials that make up the work.

Decarbonization begins as soon as operations are set up

In the current context, bad choices when submitting a permit have serious consequences. An obvious observation given the decline in construction starts (-6,1% over the last twelve months*). “The RE2020 reflex is to be shared by all teams, starting from the land development phase. You have to make the right choice of form or orientation to develop the best project. But also negotiate land by anticipating the additional cost of materials and promote in the eyes of elected officials all the environmental work undertaken by the teams... This is part of the skills that companies will increasingly expect from their development team.”

Car “the constraint can be transformed into an asset for the quality of dialogue with future buyers, as well as with public actors…”, shade Manuel Verrier. Thus, teams can use the adaptations requested by RE2020 to promote the search for environmental excellence. “Justifying special attention given to environmental issues is becoming a commercial argument. Final buyers are increasingly aware of the quality of their future housing. Controlling your gas or electricity bill is a key argument in the sales process.”

Changes… And opportunities!

In another register, investors, social landlords, communities with Paris and its bioclimatic PLU in mind are awaiting exemplary operations on the subject and ready to promote all outperformance and reach the 2025 thresholds as quickly as possible. A way of starting a dialogue that positions promoters in their best role, that of project designers in the form of solutions for the territory. Enough to make RE2020 your best ally!

Find the white paper “RE2020: the essential guide for real estate developers” download here.

*Source: Ministry of Ecological Transition