The transition is progressing in construction but progress remains to be made according to the 2nd edition of the Saint-Gobain Sustainable Construction Barometer

For Benoit Bazin, CEO of Saint-Gobain: “The Sustainable Construction Barometer is intended to be a decision-making tool for all stakeholders in the sector, so that we can understand more closely the local issues of sustainable construction and move from reflection to action concrete, in order to build a sustainable future for generations to come. »

An expanded study, serving the acceleration of sustainable construction

Initiated in 2023 in 10 countries, the Sustainable Construction Barometer is based this year on a quantitative study carried out in 22 countries among professionals, students, elected officials and members of associations. The Barometer takes the pulse of this priority subject, measures progress and identifies areas of action on which to focus efforts to advance it and position it as a strategic and essential response to major contemporary issues: climate, resources and rapid urbanization accelerated by demographic pressure. This expanded study makes it possible to grasp local and ultimately global issues with even greater finesse.

Four key lessons emerge from this Barometer

• Stable perceptions on sustainable construction always with the same and only environmental prism. A dimension of well-being and health of the occupants of the building which is still poorly recognized and valued;
• A shared urgency to act but which requires more awareness and cooperation;
• More informed, trained and committed actors;
• A deployment of sustainable construction which will only be effective if it is well adapted to local realities.

95% of respondents agree that the implementation of more sustainable construction is an important or priority issue.

This degree of urgency is clearly shared by all stakeholders, regardless of the geographical area. At the same time, understanding of sustainable construction seems partial, often limited to environmental issues. Its definition is still largely associated with “green construction”, with a definition directly linked to the energy efficiency of buildings (42%) and the achievement of carbon neutrality in buildings (33%). The notions of resilience and occupant comfort are considered more secondary. The only exception is Turkey, where sustainable construction is perceived more through the well-being of residents, at 25% compared to 14% for the world average.

Strong but variable awareness depending on the categories of respondents: 87% of those questioned say they are aware of sustainable construction but 20% of elected officials questioned say they have never heard of it.

Overall, the feeling of being informed about sustainable construction is high: 87% of those questioned say they know about sustainable construction. A figure up by +5 points[2]. 68% of respondents say they are sufficiently informed. However, educational efforts still need to be made, particularly among elected officials, with 20% declaring that they have never heard of it. However, the desire and the commitment are there: the vast majority of stakeholders from all countries (87%) agree on the fact that we must go further in terms of sustainable construction, even if the aspiration to the status quo is progressing (9%, +4 points [2]).

Among the priority actions to be taken to accelerate the development of sustainable construction, raising awareness among the general public is considered crucial, as is the question of perceived cost, and the cooperation of all stakeholders. On the other hand, the role of public initiatives (standards, regulations, aid), although fundamental, remains underestimated. Finally, energy renovation appears to be a priority in countries with a very established building stock, such as France, compared to countries which favor new construction programs in order to house a growing population, such as in Canada, Latin America and Asia.

92% of construction professionals believe that sustainable construction will constitute all or part of their activity within 5 years.

Architects and engineering firms are at the top of the most cited players in advancing sustainable construction. If building design professionals are credited with 29% of first-line responses, elected officials and public institutions follow closely, with 21% and 20%. A positive signal, professionals feel largely committed to sustainable construction: 85% say they carry out all or part of their activity there, and 92% plan to do so within five years.

The lack of commitment to sustainable construction is seen as a discriminating factor. Many professionals (62%, +3 points[2]) consider their suppliers' commitment to sustainable construction as a selection criterion. On the side of elected officials, the sustainable dimension constitutes a decisive criterion for awarding public contracts: nearly 9 out of 10 elected officials consider this criterion to be important.

Finally, among students who perceive the implementation of more sustainable constructions as a priority, 45% of them declare that they would not accept a job offer in a company that is not invested in favor of sustainable construction.

Focus: results of the Sustainable Construction Barometer for France

Energy renovation late but with strong potential

In order to explore the issue of energy renovation in France, the Saint-Gobain Sustainable Construction Observatory presents a dedicated qualitative study, also carried out by the CSA research institute. This is based on 20 interviews with French stakeholders: artisans, architects, academics, representatives of professional organizations, NGOs and associations and elected officials.

France appears to be behind in its energy renovation objectives even though the country has a larger stock of buildings to renovate than other European countries that have designed their housing differently, notably the Scandinavian countries. The stakeholders interviewed share the observation that a renovation sector has long been neglected in favor of new construction, and has not been perceived as a real market. Based on this principle, professionals (craftsmen, architects) have long specialized, favoring the new market.

This translates to:

• The observation of a necessary acceleration of energy renovation, but a lack of global and shared vision for its implementation;
• A consensus on the priorities of energy renovation, in particular on the relevance of overall renovations, on the major role of the building envelope and in particular its insulation, while opinions differ on the question of the costs and benefits involved;
• Widespread awareness and proactive public policies, albeit with persistent obstacles such as the perceived cost as well as the availability and competence of professionals in particular.

However, a fundamental transformation seems to be at work. For most of those interviewed, it is clear that energy renovation is in its infancy. To accelerate the pace, the main levers identified by respondents are the processes and best practices to be systematized, an organization and industrialization of the sector and support for owners. Public policies have taken up these subjects with, for example, the MaPrimeRénov' system or the EduRénov' program.

Beyond the Barometer, the work of the Sustainable Construction Observatory

Beyond the Sustainable Construction Barometer, the Sustainable Construction Observatory, launched in 2023, is also structured around international meetings, the Sustainable Construction Talks, bringing together all the players in the sector, and digital media Constructing a Sustainable Future.

In 2023, three Sustainable Construction Talks were organized by the Observatory: the first, in Paris, dedicated to the subject of energy renovation in Europe; the second, during Climate Week in New York, devoted to the challenges of adapting to climate change; and a final one in Dubai, on the occasion of COP28, on the theme of sustainable construction in the “Global South”.

A complex reality that goes beyond simple geographical logic

Although there is today a real and shared awareness of sustainable construction issues within the construction industry, the reality in terms of sustainable construction is not homogeneous. Diversity of issues, representations of sustainable construction, regulatory requirements and access to financing... The reality varies according to geographical areas. The divide is evident depending on the regions of the world, such as between the “Global South” and developed countries. We also observe contrasts within the same regions. In addition to geographic disparities, there are economic and social factors. It is therefore important to make sustainable construction accessible to everyone.

These findings outline 5 areas of work for the Observatory

• Financing and risk coverage: how to facilitate investments in sustainable construction and energy renovation, and strengthen the role of the insurance system in adaptation to climate change?
• Adaptation and resilience: sustainable construction remains largely understood from the perspective of climate change mitigation. But the subject of the sector's transition also involves adaptation and resilience. How can we ensure better consideration of adaptation and resilience, in a context where sustainable construction is still often considered in terms of climate change mitigation?
• Inclusion and accessibility: how to remove social and economic obstacles to sustainable construction and energy renovation?
• Human resources and skills: how to accelerate knowledge sharing and skills development in the field of sustainable construction?
• Global and local: how to combine international alignment and local specificities?

So many subjects on which the Sustainable Construction Observatory will continue its reflections in 2024 with all the players in the sector to help bring about solutions and make their deployment a reality.

[1] Survey carried out by the CSA research institute between December 11, 2023 and January 31, 2024, with a sample of 1.760 respondents aged 18 and over, from 22 countries – compared to 10 countries last year (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Turkey, Vietnam). The panel of respondents included elected officials, professionals, students and members of associations involved in construction, building, ecological transition, housing, energy, etc.

[2] Evolution calculated on the basis of the 9 countries common to both editions of the survey (2023 and 2024).

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.