GPR Building is a software tool that makes the sustainability of a home or building measurable using scores from 1 to 10. GPR originally stands for the Dutch “Gemeentelijke Praktijk Richtlijn” (municipal practice guideline). It helps clients, municipalities and designers make sustainability ambitions concrete and comparable.
How does GPR work?
Data about the design is entered into the program, after which the building receives a score on five themes:
- Energy — energy consumption, insulation and building services
- Environment — the environmental impact of the materials used
- Health — indoor climate, light, sound and ventilation
- Usability — accessibility, functionality and safety
- Future value — the adaptability and flexibility of the building
A higher score means a more sustainable, healthier and more future-proof building. A score of 7 broadly corresponds to the building code level; higher ambitions become visible in higher scores.
Application
- Municipalities — sometimes set a minimum GPR score as a condition for new-build projects
- Design phase — the tool helps make choices and compare variants
- Tenders — a GPR score can be used as an award criterion
Point of attention
GPR is a tool, not a legal requirement. The outcome depends on the quality of the data entered.
Related Terms
- Sustainable building
- Environmental performance
- Energy label
- Nearly zero-energy building
- Building code
Want to learn more about construction terms? Visit the full knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.