Assessment of LEVEL(S) Key Sustainability Indicators

The growing global emphasis on sustainability science has catalyzed significant advancements in research and practice within this domain. Among the various initiatives, the European Union has introduced LEVEL(S), a comprehensive framework for assessing the sustainable performance of buildings. This system provides a standardized methodology for evaluating and reporting key aspects of building sustainability across Europe, leveraging a structured set of indicators to address performance throughout a building’s life cycle. This study conducts a thorough analysis of the key performance indicators (KPIs) within the LEVEL(S) framework. It highlights critical limitations, such as the absence of specific metrics, misalignment with existing regulations and standards, and the absence of clear thresholds needed to effectively evaluate the performance of each KPI. Through a rigorous analysis of these KPIs, this study explores the potential for developing an enhanced and more refined framework to address these challenges.