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Building Revolution
10 Tips to lower your MPG Score and build more sustainably
It is increasingly difficult to achieve the desired MPG score. 10 tips on how to lower the MPG score to build more sustainably are a welcome addition here. Hence more sustainable and environmentally conscious building. The Environmental Performance of Buildings (MPG) is mandatory for every application for an environmental permit. The MPG indicates the environmental impact of the materials used in a building. This concerns new office buildings (larger than 100 m²) and new-build homes. The Environmental Performance of Buildings (MPG) requirement has been tightened from 1.0 to 0.8 since 1 July 2021, and possibly to 0.5 by 2030. The MPG reflects the sustainability of the building in terms of materials. By determining the shadow price per m2 GLA per year, the score is determined. The lower the environmental performance buildings the better.
Below are the 10 Tips to lower your MPG Score and build more sustainably
What is the MPG?
For the tips, a very brief explanation of what the MPG actually is. The MPG is an important measure of a building’s sustainability. The lower the MPG, the more sustainable the use of materials. The MPG calculation is a methodology that measures and quantifies the impact of buildings on the environment. It covers all aspects of a building’s life cycle, from production of building materials to final demolition. This methodology uses life-cycle assessment (LCA) to identify and evaluate environmental impacts. The MPG calculation focuses on aspects such as material use, energy consumption, emissions and waste streams. The environmental performance of building materials will become an increasingly important factor in the overall environmental impact of a building. The MPG is an objective tool in the design process and it can be used in a Schedule of Requirements to record the outcome of a design process. Applying recycled floor covering, for example, gives a building a sustainable look and is an important communication tool. However, an MPG calculation shows that the sustainability of the floor underneath has a much greater effect on the environmental impact.
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10 tips to lower your MPG score
Many projects use a low MPG score. This brings the MPG score below 0.5. How do we achieve that? And how could you (re)build less material and more sustainable?
Here are the 10 tips for a lower MPG:
Tip 1: Don't build new but choose renovation
Renovate or build new? A crucial decision in the construction industry with significant impact on the Environmental Performance of Buildings (MPG) score. Renovation often results in less demolition waste and preservation of existing structures, lowering the environmental impact. Renovation preserves materials and reduces the need for new raw materials, which positively affects the MPG score. Improvements in insulation and efficient technologies during renovation reduce energy consumption and improve the MPG score. Renovation honours cultural heritage and extends the lifespan of buildings, which is more sustainable in the long term.
Tip 2: Build more compactly and provide more square metres GLA
More compact construction is a strategy that contributes positively to the Environmental Performance of Buildings (MPG) score. The MPG calculation divides the environmental score by the area GLA. Ensuring that there is a lot of square footage relative to the material makes the score much better. Compact designs minimise the land area required, which favourably affects the MPG score.
Tip 3: Choose recycled materials
Using recycled material is a smart step to achieve a favourable Environmental Performance Building (MPG) score. Recycled material reduces the demand for new raw materials, thus minimising the carbon footprint. Producing recycled material often requires less energy than making new material, contributing to a lower MPG score. Using recycled material encourages a circular economy and contributes to a positive MPG score. Opting for recycled material shows a commitment to sustainability and contributes to a lower MPG score for a greener future.
Tip 4: Optimise the height of floors
A lower storey height requires less building material, which is not only cost-saving, but also leads to a more favourable MPG score. With less space to heat and cool, a building with lower storey height can save significant energy.
Tip 5: Provide additional square metres GLA.
Try to find extra square metres of BVO. From NEN 2580, you are allowed to count BVO up to halfway the outer walls. As a result, the BVO is always larger than the GO. A BENG calculation and MPG calculation when optimised never have the same floor area.
Tip 6: Opt for more quantities of floors
More floors mean you make best use of the available floor space, which is crucial in urban environments where space is scarce. With more floors, you can create a more compact building, which can reduce energy needs for heating and cooling. In addition, you only need to spread the foundation, ground floor insulation and roof insulation over more floors once. In addition, by going up in height, you can preserve more green spaces on the ground, which is essential for ecological balance and liveability.
Tip 7: Choose bio-based materials
Biobased materials are derived from natural resources and generally have a lower environmental impact than traditional building materials. Biobased materials, such as wood, store CO2 as they grow, helping to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the building. In addition, Biobased materials contribute to a healthy indoor environment by containing fewer chemicals than traditional materials. Biobased materials fit well within a circular economy, where they can be recycled or broken down after use.
Tip 8: Optimal Insulation: The Key to a Favourable MPG Score and BENG Performance
Choosing the right insulation is crucial for both a favourable Environmental Performance Buildings (MPG) score and meeting the requirements of the BENG (Near Energy Neutral Buildings) standard. A lot of insulation is favourable in the BENG, but incredibly disadvantageous in the MPG. Therefore, it is better to just opt for building code, or possibly something higher. Do not choose an RC of 10, The difference from 4.7 to, say, 6 provides on average 15% more energy savings, from an RC 4.7 to 10 only provides on average 30% more energy savings. Well-balanced insulation ensures energy efficiency, which is essential for a positive MPG score and BENG performance. A well-considered insulation choice ensures a future-ready building with lower environmental impact and higher performance.
Tip 9: Choose category 2 instead of category 3 products.
Category 2 cards: These are industry-specific cards, only members affiliated to this industry association may use them, some examples are Betonhuis, Nemo, Vekudak. As an example, a hollow-core slab floor by AB-FAB, precast 150mm certified by Betonhuis. Score €3.05/m2.
Tip 10: Even better choose category 1 products.
Category 1 cards: These are supplier-specific. Only when this supplier is demonstrably used with this product may this card be used.
Examples are: Kingspan, Tonzon, Dawo, VBI, Falk, Isobouw, Knauf, Rockwool, Stora Enso, Derix, Rockwool As an example, a hollow-core slab floor of VBI Groen (greenline) , precast 150mm by VBI certified. Score €2.86/m2.
As seen in the example of the channel slab, the more specific the LCA/EPD is known, the lower the score becomes. Through our experience with materials and suppliers, we are often able to achieve a better score.
Shall we check your MPG and apply these tips?
In conclusion, an MPG can be optimised in many ways. We at Building Revolution would be happy to help you further.
Contact us to see if we can achieve the desired MPG score for you.
For which buildings should you perform an environmental performance calculation?
- Building with a principal function of residential or office;
- Ancillary functions at an office building.
For which buildings do you not need to perform an environmental performance calculation?
- Office forming part of a building with uses other than office;
- Building with a conservation period not exceeding 15 years on the same site.
Example results MPG calculation
The Environmental Performance of Buildings calculates the environmental impact of the materials used in a building. The Buildings Decree 2012 makes this calculation mandatory for newly built houses, residential buildings and offices with a surface area of 100 m2 or more. Each environmental performance calculation must comply with the so-called (MKI)Environmental Cost Indicator that allows the environmental performance of a complete building to be determined, based on the performance of the products and elements it is composed of in accordance with NMD. Clients and architects can use this information to make sustainable choices based on a calculation method and a national database. This will end the ambiguity of what is or is not sustainable. To complete these calculations, we use a calculation tool from LCA One Click (Life Cycle Assessment) in combination with the NMD database of which they receive an update every 24 hours so that we can always access the right materials. The calculation tool we use is suitable for Revit, Exel. We already offer an mpg of a small house for 250 euros.
