Sustainability in Practice: Module of "Green Buildings of Tomorrow"

Recognising that high-performance building design must be translated into market-recognised certification to deliver its full economic and environmental value, NTUA has integrated dedicated training into its continuing professional education portfolio. The first module of the "Green Buildings of Tomorrow" training programme, delivered jointly by THERMOLab and NTUA e-learning, provides participants with in-depth knowledge of the three internationally leading certification systems: LEED (United States, the most widely adopted scheme globally), BREEAM (United Kingdom, with a particular focus on construction quality and rigorous environmental assessment), and DGNB (Germany, the holistic life-cycle and economic-performance framework). The module addresses why certification has moved from optional distinction to operational necessity: it lowers lifecycle operating costs through optimised building management, increases the commercial value of certified properties in domestic and international markets, and is now effectively a prerequisite for major investment projects and green-financing instruments. Complemented by site visits to certified buildings, notably the Gold LEED-certified National Gallery in Athens, the training equips engineers, architects and project managers with the practical command of these frameworks, contributing directly to the professional capacity that the European green-building transition now requires.