Czech Green Building Council

March 25, 2025

About the Czech Green Building Council

An established member of the World Green Building Council, The Czech Green Building Council (CZGBC) brings together companies from various sectors of the economy. They share a common interest in high-quality buildings that support new construction and renovation based on sustainability principles. The Czech Green Building Council was founded in 2009, and all its activities aim to meet the “Vision Zero” objectives. The goal is for buildings to operate with zero energy consumption and have no negative environmental impact throughout their life cycle.

The mission is to encourage the market to transform how people design, build, maintain, and operate buildings and urban areas. Strive to create a healthy, prosperous, environmentally and socially friendly urban environment that improves the quality of life.

The vision is that green buildings will become standard in the Czech Republic. They will enable higher productivity, a healthy and comfortable environment for their users, and will not consume more energy than they produce.

What does a green building mean?

A green building is designed to be energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and resource-conscious. It prioritizes high-quality indoor living, water conservation, sustainable materials, and circular economy principles. By reducing its environmental footprint, a green building benefits both the planet and its occupants. Over its lifetime, it offers long-term economic savings while providing a healthier, more comfortable space to live and work in.

The Chance for Buildings Alliance

The Chance for Buildings Alliance was established by the Council together with the Passive House Center in 2010 to create a favorable legislative and economic framework that will ensure that buildings in the Czech Republic are sustainable, energy-efficient, adapted to climate change, and environmentally friendly.

In preparation of legislation, standards, or support programs, Chance for Buildings provides institutions with the expertise of a broad membership of over 300 companies from the entire building segment.

What does the CZGBC council do?

The council covers a wide range of areas, from organizing various educational seminars to conferences and other related events. They ran multiple sustainability-focused projects and task groups.

There are currently 7 task groups in operation: Brownfields, Water Management, Energy, Circular Construction and Economical Materials, Quality Internal Environment in Buildings, Taxonomy & ESG, and last but not least, Timber Construction. Our Project Manager, Ing. Lukáš Weiser is part of the Taxonomy & ESG and Timber Construction group.

These task groups meet regularly to develop informative documents that help organizations learn, implement best practices, and align with industry standards.

Task Groups

Brownfields

The group focuses on the regeneration and redevelopment of unused and neglected areas, emphasizing the revitalization of brownfields—previously developed lands that are no longer in use or may be contaminated due to past industrial or commercial activities.

Advocating for the use of brownfields over greenfields, the group highlights the importance of transforming these sites through environmental remediation while integrating key topics such as water management, green roofs, and the elimination of thermal islands in cities.

By prioritizing sustainable solutions, the regeneration of brownfields not only reduces urban sprawl but also enhances urban resilience and environmental quality. It also focuses on the issue of brownfields in relation to certifications LEED, BREEAM and legislation.

The final version of the updated Investor’s Guide for Brownfield Redevelopment, originally developed by the Council in 2019, is set to be published in early March. The update aims to expand its reach and improve awareness among public administration and municipalities on issues related to urban planning.

Main Activities and Achievements:

Prepared and published the Investor’s Guide for Brownfield Redevelopment.
Collaborate with key state administration institutions, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Regional Development, and CzechInvest.
Organized the international conference Brown Goes Green, which successfully hosted 220 delegates and generated over 80 media outputs.
Promote the topic through educational events and media engagement.
Monitor related legislation and prepare proposals to eliminate barriers to the broader adoption of sustainable solutions.

The primary goal for 2025 is to promote and distribute the Guide to public administration and local governments. In addition, the group will further analyze barriers to brownfield revitalization, focusing on their practical utilization, and developing proposals for their removal. Another key priority is to disseminate the Guide through conferences and the media channels of all members.

Water Management

The group deals with the issues of water management in buildings and urbanized areas, intending to help reduce the effects of climate change and the creation of thermal islands. The priority of the group is to increase awareness of the issue and create a legislative environment that will promote the sustainable management of water in buildings.

The focus is on key topics, such as the use of rain and grey water in buildings, the retention of rainwater around buildings, and the role of green roofs and facades. The group cooperates with various sector organizations and invites academic institutions and the Institute of Planning and Development of the City of Prague for cooperation.

Main activities and achievements:

Established the CZGBC as a leader in promoting and advancing sustainable water management solutions in buildings since the Task Group’s formation in 2017.
Prepared and published a comprehensive review of legislative and incentive measures supporting green roofs and energy-saving technologies in buildings across selected European countries with similar climatic conditions, featuring best practice examples from Germany, Austria, and France.
Developed proposals for legislative amendments to promote sustainable water management and encourage the use of green roofs.
Organize seminars and guided tours of buildings showcasing best practices in sustainable water management.
Published the handbook Effectivity and Benefits of Green Roofs and, in June 2020, presented a proposal for legal changes to promote and support effective water-saving solutions at a roundtable attended by Richard Brabec, Minister for the Environment. In June 2021, a follow-up meeting was organized to assess progress in adopting the proposed changes and amendments.
Prepared and published Economy of Grey Water Use, with the booklet released at the end of 2021.
Actively promoting the importance of water management in the media, generating 169 media outputs on the topic in 2020.

The key goals and priorities for 2025 are to eliminate exemptions from stormwater charging and to improve wastewater management in and around buildings. Another important focus is to educate unit owners’ associations and housing cooperatives on sustainability initiatives.

Energy

The task group is dedicated to improving the legislative environment, streamlining support programmes, and educating professionals, especially in the field of energy efficiency of buildings while ensuring environmental, user, and investor friendliness.

Creating proposals for adjustments and commentaries of legislative regulations, including the transposition of European directives on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD) and energy efficiency (EED). The task group cooperates with the Chance for Buildings Alliance, providing it with the knowledge and experience of Council members and a relevant and credible background for negotiations with key institutions.

Main activities and achievements:

Developed and launched an online application for benchmarking energy consumption in buildings: www.uspornabudova.cz.
Prepared and published the booklet Information on Energy Management and BIM in Practice, covering topics such as energy management, energy performance, and the efficient operation of buildings.
Organize educational seminars for building operators and discussion meetings for the professional public to influence relevant regulations and propose their wording.
Contribute to the regulation of technical systems, control, and automation by co-creating legislation and submitting proposals for discussion with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and other relevant entities.
Define electromobility requirements at the building level in line with EPBD3 standards for new and existing buildings.
Collaborate with BIM experts to support the implementation and operation of BIM modeling in construction.
Develop evaluation indicators for smart cities in cooperation with UCEEB for use by the Ministry of Regional Development.

The key goals for 2025 are to initiate a broader discussion on renovation passports and energy performance certificates, identify barriers and benefits, and develop recommendations for their more effective use. The group aims to engage stakeholders in dialogue and advocate for methodological adjustments that will simplify processes and improve practical implementation. A primary objective remains supporting the transposition of EPBD4 through comments and consultations. Additionally, the group plans to organize webinars to provide updates on the progress of EPBD4 integration into Czech legislation.

Circular construction and economical materials

The main objective of the task group is to transform the Czech construction industry into a fully circular and environmentally friendly one.

Circular construction emphasizes the saving of primary resources by reusing selected building elements and by prioritizing secondary raw materials and materials from renewable sources. For built-in products, guaranteed quality and minimal environmental impacts must be ensured.

Main activities and achievements:

Support the creation of new legislation and economic instruments aimed at reducing the amount of construction waste deposited in landfills.
Created and launched the information microsite www.setrnematerialy.cz to promote the use of sustainable materials and waste management in the built environment. The goal is to provide information on implementing not only energy-efficient solutions but also those that are high-quality, durable, and environmentally user-friendly.
Member of a working group at the Ministry of Industry and Trade focused on achieving the objectives outlined in the strategic document Secondary Raw Materials Policy of the Czech Republic for 2019-2022.
Drafted regulations for setting criteria on selected commodities (e.g., concrete, bricks) to reclassify them as by-products rather than waste.
Contribute to the preparation of the Circular Czech Republic 2040 strategy, specifically in the area of demolition waste utilization.

The key goals for 2025 are to establish standards for the logistics of moving materials for processing and reuse, building on the position paper developed by Saint-Gobain. The group aims to host two Recycling Academy webinars in collaboration with UCEEB, contribute to the ReBuilt project by mapping site platforms, and promote awareness of sustainable concrete and products containing recycled content. Additionally, the objective is to compile case studies showcasing examples of good practices in material reuse and recycling.

Quality Internal Environment in Buildings

The Czech Green Building Council is the only organization in the Czech Republic focused on the holistic approach to the quality internal environment of buildings. Through a synergy of expertise among its members, the Task Group offers a unique insight into the quality of the indoor environment in all its aspects. The goal is to provide an optimal solution for the indoor environment of buildings that will benefit both people and the environment, whether in schools, offices, or homes. Quality internal environments will become a standard.

Main activities and achievements:

Prepared and launched the website www.zdravabudova.cz, presenting all aspects of a healthy indoor environment. The platform focuses on building users and how indoor conditions impact their performance, creativity, learning ability, and overall health.
Serving as a long-term expert partner for the Healthy Office category within the CBRE Art of Space competition (formerly Meeting Room of the Year). To ensure an objective evaluation of participants, developed a comprehensive system of criteria, continuously improving it in line with advancements in the field.
Initiated the Healthy School project, aiming to improve indoor environmental quality in Czech schools. The project raises awareness about the impact of a healthy indoor environment on students’ and teachers’ well-being.
Advocated for and successfully implemented an amendment to the subsidy program within the Healthy Schoolproject to include solutions for improving acoustics and lighting quality.
Prepared and launched the website www.zdravaskola.cz to further promote healthy indoor environments in schools.
Raise awareness of the benefits of WELL certification for indoor environmental quality through educational seminars and guided tours of WELL-certified buildings while also providing media support for the topic.

The key goals for 2025 are to continue the educational academy with a focus on hotels, monitor the transposition of EPBD4 from the perspective of indoor environmental quality, and raise awareness and engage in PR activities related to ESG and healthy indoor environments.

Taxonomy and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance)

The group’s main task is to develop a substantive interpretation of taxonomy and to define specific aspects at the national level. Taxonomy is a classification system that defines criteria for economic activities that are aligned with a net zero trajectory by 2050 and wider environmental goals other than climate. This will be the basis for establishing a broader consensus among stakeholders on specific rules for evaluating compliance with taxonomy requirements.

The group’s remit will be to link findings from the international scene with the requirements and ideas of market participants at a national level. Using the European Regional Network of Green Building Councils, they will be able to bring experience from other countries and use it to create such a methodological guide. The aim is a common understanding, acceptance of a common approach and assessment criteria, and simplification of the process for investors and the banking sector.

Timber Construction

The Group focuses on promoting sustainable timber construction in the Czech Republic by addressing industry challenges, enhancing education, and supporting the responsible use of wood in building practices. The group works towards improving standards, raising awareness, and fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders to advance timber as a key material in sustainable construction.

Main Activities and Achievements:

Conducted the Incien Study to explore ways to maximize wood utilization through circular strategies, waste minimization, and recycling. The study aims to reduce emissions and promote sustainability in the timber industry.
Prepared and published The Future of Timber Buildings — a brochure co-authored by the group. This document serves as a foundation for shaping future direction and priorities.

The main focus for 2025 is to promote timber education and awareness, addressing common myths and barriers within the field while also collecting data and case studies for further evaluation and development. The group aims to work towards the unification of standards and legislation, actively participate in conferences, and organize educational sessions for both professionals and the general public. Additionally, collaboration on projects that support the expansion and development of timber use remains a priority. Through these efforts, the Timber Construction Task Group is committed to strengthening the role of timber in sustainable construction and driving progress in the Czech building industry.

ZEO Homes and CZGBC

ZEO Homes is proud to be an active member of the Czech Green Building Council, contributing to the advancement of sustainable timber construction in the Czech Republic.

As we continue to champion the benefits of wood as a key building material, we invite you to follow this blog series, where we will dive deeper into The Future of Timber Buildings — exploring key insights, industry trends, and innovative solutions shaping the future of sustainable construction.

Stay tuned for the next installment!