Rethinking urban design can significantly reduce long-term costs. Building design is part of this revolution, creating circular, zero-emission buildings. Energy autonomous buildings must be the new standard. The performance of buildings in terms of energy management, the sustainability of building materials, but also the health of building users and related aspects such as air quality control and temperature control are essential design aspects.

Buildings must become more than a shelter against external conditions. A building will be a tool to support everyday life, providing energy services, water supply, electricity supply, information, recreation, cultural expression and even biodiversity. The performance of buildings will have an influence on the performance of the people in those buildings. The value of buildings will become increasingly linked to the performance of buildings and how people value these performances.

Building regulations link the minimum energy performance of buildings with a minimum embodied environmental impact performance.