HQE certification: understand everything from A to Z

Construction contributes greatly to the pollution of our society. This is why it is essential to meet the challenges of sustainable development by adopting eco-responsible practices and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

To respond to this environmental concern, France offers various solutions and approaches to oversee architectural projects and ensure compliance with established standards. HQE certification plays a key role in this area. It assesses the quality and performance of sustainable projects. Here are the essential characteristics of High Environmental Quality certification and the steps to follow to obtain it.

 

The essentials of HQE certification

What is HQE certification?

The HQE certification, High Environmental Quality, was introduced in France in 2004. Since then, it has been gaining popularity every year and more and more constructions obtain this label. Its main objective is to assess the quality of a construction or renovation project by taking into account the challenges of sustainable development.

HQE certification focuses on both environmental impacts and occupant living conditions, as the two go hand in hand in this qualitative approach. It is inspired by High Energy Performance (HPE) and complements it.

To measure the achievement of objectives, many aspects are taken into account such as the environment, energy efficiency, economic performance, territorial development, quality of life, and many others. These comprehensive measures are part of a larger approach to ensure lasting quality and comfort.

 

Reminder

Another relevant and somewhat different certification; the ISO 50001 standard which serves as a guide for companies seeking to control their energy use and minimize their environmental impact. This standard is particularly relevant for organizations that aim to reduce their carbon footprint while adopting a corporate social responsibility (CSR) approach.

 

HQE certification players

The HQE certification was created by the HQE association, now known as the HQE Alliance. However, it is now regulated by two separate entities:

1. The scientific and technical building center for the tertiary sector
2. The Qualitel association for housing.

Certivéa, which is a subsidiary of the Scientific and Technical Center for Building, is authorized to issue six HQE labels. As for the NF habitat HQE certification, it is issued by Cerqual, the main subsidiary of Qualitel.

 

The 14 targets of HQE certification

The High Environmental Quality certification emphasizes quality. To assess it, 14 objectives have been defined:

 

To obtain HQE certification, you must achieve at least 5 targets among those listed.

There are 3 levels of certification:

1. Base Level: Hit 7 targets
2. Achievement Level: Hit 11 targets
3. Level of Excellence (high performance): Achieve all 14 targets

 

The advantages of HQE certification

The HQE certification enhances the performance of constructions by emphasizing several important themes such as health, comfort and the environment.

 

Environmental respect

To obtain HQE certification, it is necessary to make a careful choice of the location of the construction, taking into account climate change, the surrounding ecosystem, biodiversity, as well as water pollution, the air or the ground. A strong commitment to the environment is essential to obtain this quality certification.

 

Quality of life

The quality of life of occupants is a major concern for developers. It facilitates the adaptability and attractiveness of buildings. To guarantee a good quality of life for residents, it is important to strengthen the safety of infrastructure and outdoor spaces, the comfort and cleanliness of spaces, to promote the development of local services to encourage conviviality, and to ensure respect of social mixing.

 

The steps to obtain HQE certification

To obtain HQE certification for your project, you must follow a process in 4 key steps:

Step 1

The first step is to formalize your approach. You must submit your certification request to Certivéa for industrial buildings or to Cerqual for NF habitat certification.

Be sure to include all required documents to avoid rejection of your application, which would cause significant delays. Your file will be examined by professionals who determine if it is admissible.

In case of admissibility, a contract will be established and the co-signature will serve as a mutual commitment.

Step 2

The second step involves the performance of an audit by an external and independent expert. This audit will cover different aspects of your construction. A detailed audit report will be written, highlighting validations and areas for improvement.

Step 3

The third step is the labeling decision. If you succeed in meeting the criteria and obtaining HQE certification, your certificate will be sent to you by post.

Step 4

The fourth and final step in the HQE labeling process consists of promoting the obtaining of your certification. This involves communication from the certification body, which will disseminate the information on its website and social networks.

You can also promote yourself using your own communication media. You will also receive various communication tools such as plaques, logos, stickers, etc., to support you in this process.

 

How to finance HQE certification?

To assess the cost of an HQE operation, it is important to adopt an "overall cost" approach. Although a significant initial investment is required, it will quickly pay for itself. Indeed, the initial additional cost will be largely compensated by the future savings generated by the operation and in particular the savings made on energy resources.

In addition, the price of certification varies depending on the size and complexity of the project. According to Certivéa, the average cost varies from €11,500 to €44,000. In general, it is advisable to budget around 10% of the total project cost.
 

 

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