The pilot phase of a new tool for designing, constructing and reporting the performance of sustainable buildings has been launched.

Dubbed Level(s), it focuses on performance indicators across areas such as greenhouse gas emissions, resource and water efficiency as well as health and comfort.

It aims to establish a “common language” around the assessment of environmental performance in the built environment.

The European Commission is inviting building projects to pilot the new tool, with the test phase expected to run until 2019.

James Drinkwater, Director of the World Green Building Council’s Europe Regional Network said: “This is a clear signal to the market that sustainable building practice is shifting from niche to norm.

“Having a common goal to deliver nearly zero-energy buildings across Europe galvanised industry-wide action and now having a common language around sustainable building helps us begin to really transform mainstream practice.”