The HQE approach

Purpose – The paper aims to present the concept and dynamics of building environmental quality (the so‐called “high environmental quality” in France) as it has been initiated in France and as it is being actually implemented. It is also aiming at showing how the Haute Qualite Environnementale (HQE) can be a tool towards sustainable development.Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyses the concept of the HQE method, its dynamics, the implementation results and its perspectives. It is showing how the HQE can contribute to sustainable development in the construction sector.Findings – The first results obtained from the implementation of the HQE method show that, well beyond the environment, interesting results are reached in the social field (health, control loads of dwelling, reduction of the accidents on the building sites, etc.) as well as in the economic one (controlled total cost, dynamics of the professions, search and development for new materials, etc.). On the basis of the environment, the HQ...