Sufficiency as a Criterion for Sustainability Assessment

Abstract

Key instruments of the German sustainability strategy for federal buildings are the 'Guideline for Sustainable Building' (LFNB) and the 'Assessment System for Sustainable Building' (BNB). Based on the three pillars of sustainability (ecological, economic and social dimensions) and expanded by building related cross-sections (technical, process and location), sustainability research is opposing sustainability strategies of consistency, efficiency, resilience and in particular sufficiency. Likewise, the New European Bauhaus (NEB), initiated by the EU-Commission in 2021, acknowledges the recognition of the finite nature of resources and introduces the term sufficiency as a relevant aspect. This requires a consistent rethinking of the way we plan, construct, and operate buildings. However, sufficiency is often not or only partially addressed in sustainability assessments. The available research points towards a necessity to rethink the classic pillars of sustainability. Sufficiency should not be seen as relinquishment, but the basis for a successful efficiency and consistency implementation. Up to now, the environmental impacts of buildings have usually been determined and evaluated as area-related parameters, omitting saving effects of area reduction. This paper proposes a reconsideration of reference values and evaluates possibilities for a BNB system integration of sufficiency criteria. The investigation does not aim to determine specific valuation criteria, but outlines possible locations for adaptation or inclusion within the pillars of sustainability.