SUSTAINABILITY EVALUATION OF BUILDING CONCEPTS

As part of the tender for the expansion of Danube University Krems, the ECODESIGN company developed a methodology for evaluating the energy performance of building concepts. Using specific sustainability criteria, the tender submissions were evaluated, compared and selected in a two step process.

In a first step, the applicants were evaluated based on existing reference projects to determine their suitability. The criteria included: Experience in overall energy efficiency, implementation of innovative air conditioning concepts or lighting concepts, implementation of energy monitoring, etc.
In the second stage, the applicants submitted a detailed building concept. A clear evaluation key was developed based on sustainability certification programs for buildings such as DGNB or LEED. The criteria areas evaluated were energy efficiency, use and proportion of renewable energy, transportation concept, energy requirements (including lighting, space heating, cooling, ventilation and hot water preparation) and building-related grey energy in the materials used.

The results were presented in individual applicant profiles, in a graphical and explanatory (text) form, and also in an overview showing a coparison of the applicants’ concepts and the results in all cirteria in the second step.
Using this ECODESIGN evaluation and comparison tool, long-term sustainability aspects of the planned building concepts could be taken into account for decision making in the tender process.