Haute Qualité Environnementale

The Haute Qualité Environnementale or HQE (High Quality Environmental standard) is a standard for green building in France, based on the principles of sustainable development first set out at the 1992 Earth Summit. The standard is controlled by the Paris-based Association pour la Haute Qualité Environnementale (ASSOHQE).

The standard specifies criteria for the following:^[1]

Managing the impacts on the outdoor environment

Harmonious relationship between buildings and their immediate environment
Integrated choice of construction methods and materials
The avoidance of nuisance by the construction site.
Minimizing energy use
Minimizing water use
Minimizing waste in operations
Minimizing building maintenance and repair

Creating a pleasant indoor environment

Hydrothermal control measures
Acoustic control measures
Visual attractiveness
Measures to control smells
Hygiene and cleanliness of the indoor spaces
Air quality controls
Water quality controls

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On 16 June 2009, it was announced that the CSTB (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Batiment) and its subsidiary CertiVéA had signed a memorandum of understanding to work together with the global arm of the United Kingdom's Building Research Establishment (BRE) to develop a pan-European building environmental assessment method. The BRE developed and markets (BREEAM (the BRE Environmental Assessment Method), which has similarities to the French HQE. Unfortunately, BREEAM and HQE are still disseminating their own standards round the world, leaving little doubt that no pan-European method will emerge in the near future, at least stemming from these two organisations.^[2]

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Since 2013, the HQE brand is now available for buildings and districts worldwide.^[3] As of 2016 HQE is present in 24 countries.^[4]