Certifying your house or building is a way to ensure quality and sustainability to the values of a set group of standards. Not only does this introduce the idea of accountability in construction, but it provides a method for comparing performance values and measuring the true sustainability of a building. Each certification scheme is bound by different parameters and addresses different aspects of design and construction. In general, we advise our clients to certify their buildings for the following reasons:

1. Due to additional control over design and construction, the quality of the resulting construction is a lot higher.
2. A certified building has a much higher market value than a non-certified one.

There are three certification schemes here in Italy with which we are particularly experienced with.

CasaClima | energy efficiency in building envelopes

The CasaClima Agency in Bolzano, Italy, is a leader in Italy for energy efficiency certification and quality in construction. Buildings that obtain this certification are guaranteed to see energy savings through high quality building envelope construction details. Through satisfying the requirements for various classes in performance, environmental quality is achieved with a focus on savings in overall energy consumption. Read more about Emu Architect’s experience with CasaClima…

Passive House | high performance energy efficiency

The Passive House certification issued by the Passivhaus Institut of Darmstadt, Germany, represents the future of energy efficient building. A certified Passive House is one that remains comfortable in all seasons without employing an active heating or cooling system. It is one of the highest achievable standards in building energy efficiency, and we are proud to be on the forefront of the Passive Movement here in Italy. Read more about Emu Architect’s experience with Passive House…

LEED | integrated environmental sustainability

LEED is a certification best known in the United States, but supported by many Green Building Councils all over the world. GBC Italia is the first country outside of North America to convert the rating system into a regionally specific certification scheme – LEED Italia. This certification scheme uses an integrated approach to environmental sustainability of the entire project, including the site, water consumption, and recycled content in building materials. Emu Architect’s Mariana Pickering is a LEED Accredited Professional with experience in both the original American and new Italian version of the New Construction rating scheme. Read more about Emu Architect’s experience with LEED Italia…