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Green Guide on environmental criteria for regional public procurement related to the building sector
Published on 11 June 2021
Spain
Comunitat Valenciana
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
In the current scenario of climate change, the change towards a more sustainable model is essential, specially in the spaces that people inhabit and interact. Promoting sustainability criteria in public procurement serves to obtain more environmentally friendly buildings and has an exemplary value, but it can also influence in the market, encouraging the private sector towards new forms of production and more responsible consumption prioritising circularity and the efficient use of resources.
The objectives pursued with the guide are, to promote works and services acquisition with the lowest possible environmental impact, to achieve sustainable growth while ensuring a more rational use of public funds, to promote the procurement of environmentally friendly goods and services, to value the useful life of products and services to the detriment of programmed obsolescence, to incorporate circularity criteria to achieve an efficient use of resources, to encourage the inclusion of quality and environmental management systems.
The guide deals with the inclusion of environmental measures in the different phases of public procurement, which are developed through a series of functional sheets (35 so far). The sheets are organized into 3 thematic categories: passive design measures, active design measures (including 2 subgroups related to resource efficiency: energy and water), products and services (including 3 subgroups: products, waste management and environmental certificates).
The objectives pursued with the guide are, to promote works and services acquisition with the lowest possible environmental impact, to achieve sustainable growth while ensuring a more rational use of public funds, to promote the procurement of environmentally friendly goods and services, to value the useful life of products and services to the detriment of programmed obsolescence, to incorporate circularity criteria to achieve an efficient use of resources, to encourage the inclusion of quality and environmental management systems.
The guide deals with the inclusion of environmental measures in the different phases of public procurement, which are developed through a series of functional sheets (35 so far). The sheets are organized into 3 thematic categories: passive design measures, active design measures (including 2 subgroups related to resource efficiency: energy and water), products and services (including 3 subgroups: products, waste management and environmental certificates).
Resources needed
Six technicians have worked on the drafting of the guide, but the preceding work has involved a large number of experts, to whom numerous consultations have been carried out. In addition, the guide has been reviewed and validated by more than 30 entities, a difficult task to value and compute.
Evidence of success
Since its presentation in July 2020, more than 1000 downloads and nearly 2000 visits have been recorded on the Generalitat website where the tool has been hosted so far (April 2021).
It has been recognized by the European Committee of the Regions as a good practice in the fight against climate change and sustainable recovery from COVID-19 within the framework of the Green New Deal.
There are currently three ongoing tenders for pilot housing buildings, which have followed the guide.
It has been recognized by the European Committee of the Regions as a good practice in the fight against climate change and sustainable recovery from COVID-19 within the framework of the Green New Deal.
There are currently three ongoing tenders for pilot housing buildings, which have followed the guide.
Potential for learning or transfer
The fact that it is conceived as a lived tool, in continuous growth, has led the responsible department of the regional government (Second Vicepresidency and Regional Ministry of Housing and Bioclimatic Architecture) to promote the development of a specific online platform, so that it can be updated in an agile way.
The guide facilitates the tendering and contracting of construction works, but also the harmonisation in the sector, with the aim of unifying technical and economic references, quality control, environmental and technological criteria, as well as it enables the optimisation of the resources used, reduce execution times, and avoid confusion, conflicts, delays, and cost overruns in procedures.
The guide facilitates the tendering and contracting of construction works, but also the harmonisation in the sector, with the aim of unifying technical and economic references, quality control, environmental and technological criteria, as well as it enables the optimisation of the resources used, reduce execution times, and avoid confusion, conflicts, delays, and cost overruns in procedures.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Regional Government of Valencia
Spain
Comunitat Valenciana
Contact
Project Manager