Environmental performance of construction works
The environmental performance of construction works makes the environmental impact of buildings and civil engineering works transparent. The Dutch Environmental Database forms the basis for a uniform determination of the environmental performance of construction works. This creates a common foundation for design, assessment and policy.
The environmental performance of construction works provides insight into the environmental impact of buildings and civil engineering works throughout their entire life cycle. In the Netherlands, this is assessed within a coherent system comprising the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Construction Works, environmental declarations from the Dutch Environmental Database, and validated calculation tools. Together, these elements allow the environmental performance of a construction work to be calculated and make differences between design and material choices transparent and comparable.
In the building and utility sector, the environmental performance is expressed as the Environmental Performance of Buildings (MPG). In the civil engineering sector, the Environmental Cost Indicator (MKI) is used.
What is the environmental performance of construction works?
The environmental performance of buildings indicates the environmental impact of a building or structure. This is determined through an environmental performance calculation, based on the Assessment Method and environmental data from the Dutch Environmental Database. The result is a numerical value expressing the environmental burden caused by a building, from production to demolition and reuse. The lower the MPG score, the more sustainable the building.
The Environmental Performance of Buildings (MPG) helps design and construct buildings more sustainably. The MPG indicates the environmental impact of a building: the lower the MPG score, the more sustainable the building. The score is expressed in euros per square metre of gross floor area (GFA) per year. In the Netherlands, it is mandatory to calculate the environmental performance of new buildings. The method is described in the Environmental Performance Assessment Method for Construction Works, a uniform measurement method based on the European standard EN 15804.
Note: For new construction, the environmental performance is calculated using the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Construction Works. For existing buildings, specific assessment methods apply, such as the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Renovation & Transformation and the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Maintenance.
MPG and MKI: what’s the difference?
In the Building and Non-Residential Sector (B&U), the MPG is used to measure the environmental performance of buildings.
In the Civil Engineering Sector (GWW), the Environmental Cost Indicator (MKI) is often used, which is based on the same methodology.
Methodology and calculation
Within environmental performance calculations, various methods, calculation tools and policy frameworks are used. For new construction, the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Construction Works forms the basis, as established in the Buildings Decree (Bbl).
Assessment Method
Learn more about the methodology for calculating the environmental performance of construction works
Environmental performance calculation
Learn more about how the environmental performance of a building is calculated and what is needed for an accurate assessment
Calculation tools
Discover which calculation tools you can use to assess the environmental performance of buildings.
Policy in the Netherlands and Europe
Learn more about Dutch and European policies and regulations in the construction sector.
Application in practice
Environmental performance calculations are used not only for new construction, but also in civil engineering projects and for interventions in existing buildings within the building and utility sector. In these cases, the application is practice-based, for example for comparison, optimisation or substantiation of choices, and not a statutory requirement. These pages show how environmental performance is applied in building and utility projects and civil engineering projects. The application differs per project type and situation.
Application of the Environmental Cost Indicator (ECI) in Civil Engineering
Learn more about the application of MKI in the civil engineering sector.
Application of environmental performance in existing buildings
Learn how to calculate the environmental performance of existing buildings and which Assessment Method to apply.
Assessment Method WLC-GWP
The Assessment Method WLC-GWP describes how the greenhouse gas emissions of a building are calculated over the entire life cycle, including both material-related emissions and energy use in the use phase.
Environmental and energy performance of construction works
Learn how the environmental and energy performance of construction works, also referred to as MEPG, combines material use and energy use into one integrated environmental performance calculation.
Additional topics within environmental performance
Within environmental performance, additional topics play a role that influence the interpretation and application of environmental data. These pages provide more information on subjects such as reuse, renewability, biogenic carbon and the Environmental Investment Allowance (MIA/Vamil).
Environmental Investment Allowance (MIA/Vamil)
Discover how the Environmental Investment Allowance (MIA/Vamil) relates to environmental declarations in the Dutch Environmental Database and what this means for your product.
Circular construction
Learn more about what circular construction means, how circular strategies contribute to a lower environmental impact and what role the environmental performance calculation plays in this.
Biogenic carbon content
Find out how biogenic carbon is recorded and processed in environmental data and what this means for the calculation of environmental performance.
Explanatory videos on environmental performance in construction
In the videos below, we explain the environmental performance of construction works. You will see how the calculation is applied in the building and civil engineering sectors, and what the outcome means in practice. Please do not forget to enable subtitles. The videos are spoken in Dutch.
Frequently asked questions Environmental performance calculation
The Environmental Performance of Buildings (EPB - MPG in Dutch) calculates the environmental impact of the materials used in a building. The 2012 Building Decree makes this calculation mandatory for B&U:
- new residential buildings
- residential buildings
- offices with a surface area of 100 m2 or more
Each environmental performance calculation must comply with the 'Bepalingsmethode Milieuprestatie gebouwen en GWW-werken'. This allows the environmental performance of an entire building to be determined based on the performance of the products and elements that make up the building.
It enables clients and architects to make sustainable choices based on a national calculation method and database.
The determination of the environmental performance of a structure can be performed with calculation tools that have been validated by the Stichtng NMD.
The EPB is used to calculate the environmental performance of structures. The environmental performance is an important measure of the sustainability of a structure.
Calculating environmental performance is mandatory in the building and civil engineering sector under the Building Decree. In the civil engineering sector, we see more and more clients including environmental performance as an award criterion in tenders.
