Our history

The emergence of sustainable development in the construction sector

Although thermal regulations have been imposed on new buildings since the first oil crisis,  it was not until the beginning of the 1990s and the emergence of the concept of sustainable development that thought was given to the global impact that buildings, and more broadly the world of construction, can have on the environment. It quickly became clear that it was necessary to bring together the players to build a common language and a proactive approach. This is how the Association HQE was created in 1996 to provide a reference framework, the HQE approach. The foundations were laid with the definition of the 14 targets that carry the ambitions of sustainable development in the building sector, followed by the Explicit Definition of Environmental Quality (Définition Explicite de la Qualité Environnementale) for Buildings, published in 2002.

Standardization, a decisive step in the development of the reference framework for environmental and health declaration sheets

At the same time, from the writing of the DEQE, the members of the Association HQE are involved in standardization work, initially at the national level within the framework of P01E. This work led to the publication in 2003 of the experimental standard NF X P 01-010, which became the reference framework for the environmental and health declaration sheets. Over the years, the standardization work was extended to CEN at the European level, then to ISO at the international level.

Collaborative work at the heart of the association recognized as a public utility

Recognized as a public utility in 2004, the Association HQE favors collaborative work, guaranteeing a global approach to the act of building and the sharing of practices. A certification reference system was developed and the first certificate was issued in 2005. Over the years, the certification standards have been enriched to become an essential reference, and HQE® certification is now one of the most widely used certifications in the world, for buildings under construction, renovation and operation.

From the first experiments in HQE Performance assessment to the birth of the HQE reference framework

Consideration of the impact of buildings on the environment is gaining new momentum with the Grenelle de l’Environnement in 2007, then the Sustainable Building Plan in 2009. The Association HQE, on the occasion of its Assises, initiates an innovative process, with the creation of HQE Performance, a 2^nd generation experimental program which is beginning to introduce the notions of life cycle analysis, indoor air quality, circular economy or resilience. Fully launched in 2011, this collaborative innovation work positions the association as a major contributor to the assessment of the environmental impacts of both buildings and land development. It was also in 2011 that the Association HQE became the owner and manager of the INIES database, the national reference environmental and health database for buildings, and now the RE2020. And because the sum of juxtaposed HQE buildings in no way guarantees the creation of a sustainable district or territory, it was also in 2011 that the HQE certification for sustainable development projects was born.

It was also during this period that the four commitments, the basis of the HQE reference framework, were created. These four commitments restructure the 14 targets into a coherent whole with the pillars of sustainable development:

• Environmental pillar: Respect for the environment
• Societal pillar: Quality of life
• Economic pillar: Economic performance
• Governance: Responsible management

A new international dynamic

Having become Alliance HQE-GBC in 2016 through the fusion of the Association HQE with France GBC, it is taking on an international dimension and establishing itself as the French member of the global network of Green Building Councils.

After the building and development sectors, an HQE certification standard is dedicated to infrastructure in 2017.

Today, the Alliance HQE-GBC France represents the privileged place for dialogue between committed professionals, eager to promote best practices. It is actively pursuing its collaborative and forward-looking innovation work in favor of sustainable design, construction – but also renovation of buildings, development and infrastructure, the foundations of the city of tomorrow.