Introduction

The European Green Building Forum has produced the Green File, which considers how sustainability relates to the construction industry.

The scope of the document is to:
Look at the built environment, primarily buildings and estates; and the materials used to construct these;
Consider how sustainable development relates to the built environment
Look at how to assess the sustainability performance of the built environment.

The Green File aims to:
Act as a reference document on criteria commonly used across Europe to specify and measure sustainability in the design, construction and retrofitting of buildings;
Present a 'Core European Approach';
Emphasise the energy, transport and information technology aspects of sustainable development;
Highlight alternative approaches to the 'Core European Approach' and suggest the circumstances under which these may be appropriate.

The target audience for the Green File is building and construction professionals.