Haute Qualité Environnementale
The Haute Qualité Environnementale or HQE is a standard for green building in France, based on the principles of sustainable development first set out at the 1992 Earth Summit. The standard is controlled by the Paris-based ''Association pour la Haute Qualité Environnementale.''
Coverage
The standard specifies criteria for the following:Managing the impacts on the outdoor environment
- Harmonious relationship between buildings and their immediate environment
- Integrated choice of construction methods and materials
- The avoidance of nuisance by the construction site.
- Minimizing energy use
- Minimizing water use
- Minimizing waste in operations
- Minimizing building maintenance and repair
- Hydrothermal control measures
- Acoustic control measures
- Visual attractiveness
- Measures to control smells
- Hygiene and cleanliness of the indoor spaces
- Air quality controls
- Water quality controls
Future development
On 16 June 2009, it was announced that the CSTB and its subsidiary CertiVéA had signed a memorandum of understanding to work together with the global arm of the United Kingdom's Building Research Establishment to develop a pan-European building environmental assessment method. The BRE developed and markets BREEAM, which has similarities to the French HQE. Unfortunately, BREEAM and HQE are still disseminating their own standards round the world, leaving little doubt that no pan-European method will emerge in the near future, at least stemming from these two organisations.International development
Since 2013, the HQE brand is now available for buildings and districts worldwide.As of 2016 HQE is present in 24 countries.