There is no mandatory green building certification system in any of the three Belgian regions. However, there are several voluntary frameworks being developed and used, together with the competent authorities.
In the past, international certification standards were applied, with the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) becoming the most preeminent system. Today, BREEAM has been further refined into TOTEM, the Tool to Optimize the Total Environmental impact of Materials.1 Like the E-level in energy ratings, the M-level emphasizes the environmental performance of buildings. It is a product of the three Belgian regions, in collaboration with architects, promotors, contractors and universities.
There is also the GRO tool, whose name is inspired by former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Brundtland, which focuses more on the circular principles. GRO is a tool for measuring and increasing the sustainability of construction projects. The aim of GRO is to arrive at future-oriented, comfortable buildings through an integrated design process, with a strong commitment to circular construction. The initiative was taken by the Flemish Region, and cooperation with the two other regions is starting. The website is in Dutch and French: GRO tool – GRO tool (gro-tool.be).
The Belgian Construction Certification Association continues to grant certification for products and building systems, according to international criteria ISO/IEC 17065, 17021-1 17024 and 17020 .
In 1959, several professional associations of contractors established a technical research center, Buildwise, which also promotes studies addressing quality, productivity and sustainability. This in turn inspired the governmental initiative in Brussels called “ecobuild,”2 which supports the development and structuring of supply in sustainable buildings in the Brussels-Capital Region, to help companies be more competitive and conquer new markets.