Newsletter – Issue Ν ο 5 (June 2008) SUSCON is a LIFE – Environment project (LIFE 05 ENV/GR/000235) aiming at the adoption and application of “sustainable construction” concept in the practices of construction industries, engineering consulting companies which draft technical specification of civil works, public authorities which issue technical tenders, suppliers of construction materials and other stakeholders involved in this field. Project Partners: -National Technical University of Athens (School of Chemical Engineering) -EDRASIS C. PSALLIDAS S.A. -EPTA Ltd. – Environmental Consultants Engineers -University of Cyprus (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering) -CYBARCO Ltd. -Technical Chamber of Cyprus Award Ceremony of the Cypriot Competition for Sustainable Construction Sustainable Construction in Public and Private Works through IPP approach The Award Ceremony of the Cypriot Competition for Sustainable Construction took place on Tuesday, June 3 rd, 2008, in Nicosia, Cyprus. The ceremony was organized by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the University of Cyprus in cooperation with the Technical Chamber of Cyprus and Cybarco Ltd.. Under Building category, the Electricity Authority of Cyprus Office Building, submitted by A. Gabrielides (architect) and Meletitiki engineering consulting company, was awarded. Under the infrastructure work category, two proposals were awarded: “Upgrading of Platres- Prodromos Roadworks” submitted by Andreas A. Papadopoulos and Associates and “Upgrading of the Limassol By-Pass Agios Athanasios Roundabout” submitted by the Department of Public Works. The prizes were awarded by representatives of the Cypriot Ministries of Commerce, Industry & Tourism, Communications & Works, as well as Agriculture, Natural Resources & Environment. During the award ceremony, the SUSCON project and its activities were presented, while the works that were awarded were described. In support of the competition, funding was provided by the following sponsors: the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, the Cyprus Telecommunication Authority, the Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Conservation Special Fund of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism and Cybarco Ltd.

Editorial The Directive 2002/91 for the energy performance of buildings aims to improve the performance of the buildings within the E.U., setting the framework for the development of National methodologies for calculating the integrated energy performance of buildings. According to the Directive, the member-states must develop an energy performance certificate scheme, a gradation of the energy performance (A, B, C..), the level of energy performance that new buildings must comply with etc. The member-states had to transpose the Directive in their National legislations by January 4th, However, in Greece the transposition procedure is not yet finalized and Greece might face a conviction by the European Court, as well as a financial penalty, until the necessary laws, regulations and administrative provisions are brought into force, so that the National legislation complies with the Directive’s requirements. The one-day informational event entitled “Sustainable Construction in Greece: Successful Case Studies and Practices” took place on Friday, May 23 rd, 2008, in the exhibition centre Expo-Athens, along with the 1st international exhibition "Ecotec '08 - Environmental Technologies”. The event was organized by the National Technical University of Athens in cooperation with EPTA Ltd. Environmental Engineers – Consultants and EDRASIS - C. Psallidas S.A. The Conference aimed at highlighting the potential for promoting sustainable construction in Greece, after the transposition of the EU Directive for the energy performance of buildings in the National legislation. Existing means and tools that render possible the development of a sustainable construction model were also discussed. One day informational event “Sustainable Construction in Greece: Successful Case Studies and Practices” Sustainable Construction in Public and Private Works through IPP approach During the informational event, the tool, that has been developed for the assessment of buildings’ environmental performance and the reduction of their environmental impact throughout the whole life cycle, was presented. Along with the tool, successful case studies of energy efficient buildings were also presented. The event was attended by representatives of the National Chamber of Greece, the Centre of Renewable Energy Sources, the National Observatory of Athens, as well as consulting companies, architects and others.

Greek Competition on Sustainable Construction of Buildings Deadline for submission of proposals: July 31th, 2008 In Greece, a Competition on Sustainable Construction of Buildings is being organized by the National Technical University, in cooperation with EPTA Ltd. Environmental Engineers – Consultants and EDRASIS - C. Psallidas S.A., in the framework of the SUSCON project. The prize will be awarded to the organization that has been involved in the construction of the most sustainable building in Greece (consulting company, construction company or public organization that is involved in the design, supervision or construction). Owners or users of buildings are also eligible for participation in the competition. The construction must ensure the comfort conditions for the users, minimize the consumption of natural resources and promote the use of sustainable materials and renewable energy sources. Furthermore it has to promote safe construction standards and innovative technologies, minimize waste production during the construction and cost during operation, while it should harmonically integrate into the natural and built environment. The criteria adopted for the assessment of the proposals have been based on the tool that has been developed, in the framework of the project, for the assessment of buildings’ environmental performance. According to the tool, the assessment of the buildings’ environmental performance is based on two main axes: the Environmental and the Economic. The Environmental axis is divided into five main environmental issues, which implicate Natural Resources (divided into Land use, Energy efficiency, Material Resources efficiency and Water conservation) and Health & Safety which enters the sphere of Social Performance of a building. Economic Performance is defined by five main parameters as well, which include the contribution to the Local Economy, the Efficiency, the Adaptability, the Operational Costs and the Capital Costs. For the coordination of the awards, an Evaluation Committee has been constituted, comprised of representatives from the Hellenic Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning & Public Works, NTUA, the Hellenic Association of Public Works Contractors, the Centre for Renewable Energy Sources, the Geological Institute and EPTA Ltd. The Award Ceremony will be held in on September 18 th, The awarded buildings will be widely disseminated through mass media and internet. The deadline for the submission of the proposals has been set for July 31 st The electronic magazine Greek Architect is the communication sponsor of the Competition. For more regarding the competition,

Progress of the Project - Future Actions For more information, you can visit the project website: R egarding the progress of the project during the last six months the following actions, among others, have been realized: 5 th Project Meeting O n April the 11 th, the 5 th project meeting between the project partners was held in Athens. During the meeting, the construction companies presented the results from the pilot application of the tool for the evaluation of the buildings’ environmental performance. Based on the participating companies’ experience, the problems encountered were discussed and corrective actions were proposed. 6 th Project Meeting O n June the 2 nd, the 6 th project meeting between the project partners took place in Nicosia and was combined with the partners’ participation in the Award Ceremony of the Cypriot Competition for Sustainable Construction. During the meeting, the progress of the project was discussed and the next actions for successful completion of the project were planned. O n Friday, September the 18 th, the Final Conference of the project will be held, along with the Award Ceremony of the Greek Competition on Sustainable Construction of Buildings. Final Conference Evaluation Committee Meeting I n August 2008, the Evaluation Committee of the Greek Competition on Sustainable Construction of Buildings will meet in order to evaluate the proposals submitted. The proposals that will get the highest score will be awarder in a special, for the occasion, ceremony. T he action plan of the project for the next months includes the following: