Protocols for the assessment of building sustainability level. A new proposal for the Italian context

The paper aims at illustrating an innovative methodology for the development of a system to assess and rate the sustainability level of buildings, with particular reference to the Italian context. First, a review of the state of the art is presented, focusing on the existing sustainability tools, which characterize the building sector. Afterwards, the main criticalities of the current systems are pointed out, laying the basis for the setting-up of the new protocol. Consequently, the paper illustrates the process leading to the development of the new sustainability evaluation system, showing all the main steps towards its final inner structure. Finally, the research work introduces the concept of ‘benchmark’, underlining its importance within the new protocol framework. In particular, the absence of reference or limit values for some performance indicators is emphasized and a computation methodology is proposed for those performance indicators lacking of benchmark values, with respect to the Italian background. As a result, the paper provides an effective methodological and operative tool for decision makers, such as designers, constructors, developers and users of sustainability systems. The outcomes offer a contribution to the national and international development of methods and guidelines, supporting the overall sustainability evaluations in the building field.