Certivea launches the first HQE “One Shot” certification to help stakeholders improve and certify the performance of a building in operation

A very clear market trend for CERTIVEA, which has certified 5 times more operations in operation between 2020 and 2024. To help stakeholders fully leverage the benefits of the sustainable operation of their operations, and to certify their performance, CERTIVEA is launching a “One Shot” HQE certification. The principle: a one-off assessment of performance related to the uses of the building that notes the guidelines deployed and attests to the level achieved, and no longer a cyclical logic.

For François Jallot, president of CERTIVEA: "Construction at a standstill, constrained budgets, and demands for sobriety: in this context, sustainable operation is essential to make the most of what already exists. It is becoming an essential solution for owners and operators. Since 2020, we have supported five times more projects in sustainable operation. This approach makes it possible to comprehensively address all the issues related to building uses. Because stakeholders today need to move faster and be able to simply and quickly attest to the quality of their buildings, we are launching HQE One Shot: a solution that allows for the one-off assessment of the performance of a building in operation with a 360° approach."

HQE Exploitation One Shot: a 360° approach to enhance existing assets and rethink uses

Between 2020 and 2024, the number of projects in operation certified by CERTIVEA increased fivefold, reaching nearly 1.000 certifications, half of which were at the 'Excellent' level. These projects mainly concern offices, but also company restaurants, exhibition buildings and hotels. HQE Exploitation certifications allow for a cross-functional reflection on the building and a comprehensive approach to all the issues related to the uses of a building: reducing consumption and emissions, improving quality of life, digitizing uses, optimizing services, controlling costs and encouraging the circular economy...

In an economic context where stakeholders have less visibility on their long-term investments, the HQE Exploitation “One Shot” certification offers a one-time assessment of the performance of all building uses. Valid for three years, the certificate is aimed at stakeholders with specific needs at key moments in the life of a project, such as its launch on the market or its purchase.

Sustainable Operations: Top 5 Benefits for Owners and Operators

• Regulatory compliance with new environmental and energy requirements.
• Reduction of energy consumption and continuous improvement of performance.
• Reduction of operating costs: energy and water savings, better waste management and reduction of technical obsolescence.
• Valuation of real estate assets: a high-performance, certified building is more attractive, better valued and less prone to vacancy.
• Improved user comfort: healthier spaces, better suited to new uses, with increased flexibility and strengthened consultation between occupants and operators.

Sustainable operation: key information to better understand this “third way of sustainable building”, after construction and renovation

Operation, what are we talking about? Building operation encompasses all the actions and services aimed at ensuring its proper daily functioning. It includes infrastructure maintenance, technical equipment management (energy, heating, air conditioning, etc.), environmental performance monitoring, and systems that ensure occupant safety and comfort.

What does the regulation say? The regulations strengthen the requirements related to building operations. The BACS decree requires, as of January 1, 2025, the installation of automated management systems in tertiary buildings equipped with HVAC systems of more than 290 kW. The tertiary decree sets targets for reducing energy consumption by up to 60% by 2050. The European directive on the energy performance of buildings, to be transposed by May 2026, also aims to improve performance during the operating phase.

What is the weight of operations in the overall footprint? In France, 77% of emissions from the building sector are linked to their “operation” phase and 23% of national emissions are directly from the operation of buildings (heating, air conditioning, lighting, domestic hot water, electricity)[2]. The real estate sector and more specifically the operation of buildings represents a lever for transformation to reduce GHG emissions.

[1] Carbone 4. (2024, February 22). Reduction in emissions from the building sector: good or bad news for the climate? Consulted on https://www.carbone4.com/article-baisse-emissions-batiment

[2] Ministry of Regional Planning and Ecological Transition. (nd).