The HQE-GBC alliance publishes the results of the HQE Circular Economy Performance test

This unprecedented test demonstrates in particular the value of the multicriteria life cycle analysis (LCA) method and the new material flow analysis tool (MFA).

A common repository

In January 2018, the HQE-GBC Alliance published a framework for defining the circular economy in the building offering 15 levers (annex), to have a common frame of reference for all players in the profession, from product manufacturers to building designers, project managers and developers.

To test its relevance and scientific robustness, the Alliance launched, in 2019, in partnership with Cerqual, Certivéa, CSTB, EVEA, INIES and the financial support of ADEME, a test within the framework of the program of collaborative innovation HQE Performance.

Objectives: to identify indicators and test new tools promoting the concrete integration of the circular economy in buildings.

The HQE Circular Economy Performance Test thus made it possible to assess 23 projects: 7 buildings renovated or rehabilitated and 16 new buildings. It was carried out on different types of buildings: 9 offices, 6 collective residential, 5 tertiary and 3 individual houses.

Complementary tools

The test was structured around various complementary tools, some of which are commonly used by construction stakeholders: the circular economy profiles of certifiers, the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) with the Environmental and Health Declaration Sheets (FDES) ) and Product Environmental Profiles (PEP) from the INIES Database.

To these were added a comparison of end-of-life scenarios and the analysis of material flows (MFA), making it possible to integrate new indicators, more specific to the circular economy approach applied to buildings. .

Key Findings

The HQE Circular Economy Performance Test shows, on the one hand, that it is possible to have real indicators of the circularity of construction products and equipment, both in new construction and in renovation, without additional effort compared to experimentation. E + C-.

On the other hand, the test validated the complementarity of two methods:

• The LCA multi-criteria method, expressing indicators other than that of carbon alone, such as the depletion of resources, the nature and impacts of hazardous and non-hazardous waste.
• The building MFA method, taking into account indicators of quantities of secondary materials recovered at input and secondary materials recoverable at output (through reuse or reuse and recycling).

Finally, the test also made it possible to highlight a few avenues for the building to be part of a circular economy logic:

• Avoid unnecessary construction products and equipment: as for energy, the best recovery of material is that which we do not produce; Eco-design, and pool as much as possible by creating synergies with its environment;
• Use as few rare raw materials as possible (LCA indicators depletion of non-fossil abiotic resources);
• Reuse and reuse while ensuring technical performance construction products and equipment already present on or near operations (LCA under renovation);
• Have low waste production (LCA indicators for non-hazardous, hazardous and radioactive waste);
• Make the most of the waste produced (end of life scenario);
• Have a maximum of secondary materials in and out while ensuring the balance of flows between inputs and outputs (MFA indicators); have a transport intensity of supply (entry) and to the outlets (exit) as low as possible (MFA indicators).

A guide and the 23 project sheets are available at this address.

Framework for defining the circular economy in the building industry: 15 levers for action

To help players in the building and real estate sector to better understand the circular economy and take action, the HQE-GBC Alliance has published “ the framework for defining the circular economy for buildings ". This document, the result of strong interprofessional co-construction and usable by all, was co-signed by the Ministry of Ecological and Inclusive Transition, the Ministry of Territorial Cohesion, ADEME, CSTB and the Association OREE. This definition framework is the link with the reference framework for sustainable building for all.