The Ecobuild Cluster
A cluster is a tool for developing and promoting a sector and making it more competitive. It creates a network of companies with convergent activities concentrated in the same area.
The Ecobuild Cluster, is one of the projects set up by Brussels-Capital Region to promote sustainable construction and renovation, especially as a response to the effects of climate change. It is part of a strategy of Sustainable Development which promotes the creation, growth and long life of companies.
Brussels-Capital Region set up this Ecobuild Cluster in November 2006 as part of the Economy and Employment Contract. Brussels Environment and Energy Minister Evelyne Huytebroeck and Brussels Economy and Employment Minister Benoît Cerexhe made the joint decision to support this promising sector, as it is particularly important in the current context. As the built environment in Brussels is a high consumer of energy, the construction sector and the renovation sector in particular will have to evolve considerably in coming years in order to achieve various targets such as a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas effects by 2020, or the obligation to build passive buildings in BCR from 2015 on. Companies in the sector can count on the support of the Cluster and its many partners to meet the many challenges ahead.
This support was reinforced at the end of 2010 with increased funding and the integration of the Ecobuild Cluster as the main partner for many Employment-Environment Alliance initiatives.
Definition of green construction
"Green construction or sustainable construction consists of creating, renovating or restoring a building in an environmentally friendly way which generates energy savings."
The term "green construction", used since the Ecobuild Cluster started, must therefore be understood in its widest meaning, often also called "sustainable construction". In addition to promoting ecological materials and the companies which use them and so make a major contribution to the "sustainability" of buildings, the notion of energy savings will also be highlighted in the context of Brussels. Increased efforts will have to be made with regard to CO2 emissions in order to meet the government targets for 2020. That is why the cluster takes into account all initiatives aimed at achieving drastic reductions in this respect through better insulation, the rational use of energy, the use of renewable energies, improved mobility, the use of natural materials or materials with low grey energy emissions etc.
The health and well-being of occupants, but also of workers on site and further upstream will also be taken into consideration.
Target public
All stakeholders (companies, the self-employed, tradesmen) in the vertical process of green construction, from the main contractor to the site worker.
These are regrouped into 7 categories within the Ecobuild Cluster:
- architects/designers
- consulting engineers
- contractors
- producers or sellers of sustainable materials and products
- real estate developers
- renewable energy companies
- interior designers
- partners:
- universities and research centres
- professional associations
- training and awareness-raising agencies.
