Construction 21

With the goal of optimizing the exchange of technical data and information related to sustainable building in Europe, the European Union has launched the Construction 21 project as part of its Intelligent Energy Europe program, based on the Agenda-21 guidelines of the UNO. As of May 4, 2011, eight participating partners from six countries have begun working intensively together for a two-year period. Their two primary objectives are to develop a European information system along the lines of BUILD UP, and to establish forums for communication within the different areas of sustainable building. These efforts are aimed at increasing transparency in the national and the European markets, and making comparisons possible between the methods, prices, energy efficiencies, and architectural guidelines of sustainable building projects. They should also serve to encourage an environment of healthy competition. Further objectives include the development of an expert network to address technical questions, the compilation of well-founded answers to relevant technical questions, and the acceleration of market development.

The DGNB is involved in many aspects of the project. Its primary responsibility is to lead the module entitled “Mobilizing target groups and thematic communities locally in each partner country: Aligning local networks in selected cities and online thematic communities to Trans-European themes”.

Project Partners


  • EACI - Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation – Project Officer
  • France
    IFPEB – Institut Français pour la Performance Energétique du Bâtiment – Project Manager
    CIRIDD – Centre International de Ressources et d´Innovation pour le Développement Durable
  • Italy
    A.N.C.E. – Italian Construction Contractors´ Association
    UCV – Unioncamere Veneto
  • Lithuania
    VGTU – Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
  • Romania
    RoGBC – Romania Green Building Council
  • Spain
    ESCI – Escola Superior de Comerç Internacional

Regular Exchange. The Construction 21 Partner Meetings


The Construction 21 project meetings take place every six months with all partners. Below is a chronological overview:
  • May 2011 Kick-off Meeting in Paris, France: During the first C21 Meeting the project objectives and all of the partners were introduced. Three points of focus were then agreed upon: the organization of the project management, the detailed realization of the work packages, and the definition of the time requirements for the project actions and deliverables.
  • November 2011 in Barcelona, Spain: The last meeting took place on November 29th and 30th in Barcelona, where the C21 partners have been invited by ESCI. The goal of this meeting was to educate the project partners in the use and moderation of the national C21 platforms and the trans-European forums.


Overview of the European Platform >>
Registration in the German Construction21 Platform >>


For question, please, contact Bettina Mahnecke.

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