The MPG (MilieuPrestatie Gebouwen, Environmental Performance of Buildings) is a measure of the environmental impact of materials in a building, expressed as shadow costs per square metre per year. The MPG calculates the environmental effects of all building materials used across the full life cycle and summarises them in one figure: the lower the score, the better the environmental performance. For new-build homes and offices above a certain size, the Netherlands applies a statutory MPG requirement that is tightened periodically.
How is the MPG calculated?
The MPG is based on a life-cycle assessment (LCA) for each material, using data from the Dutch National Environmental Database. For each material, environmental effects such as climate change, resource depletion and pollution are converted into shadow costs, a notional price for environmental damage in euros. Those costs are divided by the usable floor area and service life, resulting in a score per square metre per year.
Which MPG requirement applies?
For new-build homes and offices, a statutory limit value applies and has been tightened step by step over the years. The MPG calculation is a mandatory part of the environmental permit process. A lower limit value pushes designers to make more deliberate material choices.
MPG and circular construction
The MPG rewards choices that sit high on the R-ladder: less material, reuse, and biobased or renewable resources that store CO2. In this way, environmental performance becomes a design task and connects to regenerative design.
MPG versus CO2 footprint
A CO2 footprint looks only at greenhouse gas emissions. The MPG weighs multiple environmental effects in one figure through shadow costs. The MPG is therefore broader, but specifically focused on the materials in buildings.
How New Economy supports MPG-based design
New Economy supports material and design choices with LCA and footprint data, so the environmental performance of a building or product can be steered from the design phase. See Product Footprint.
Frequently asked questions about the MPG
MPG stands for MilieuPrestatie Gebouwen, or Environmental Performance of Buildings: a measure of the environmental impact of materials in a building, expressed as shadow costs per square metre per year.
Yes, for new-build homes and offices above a certain size, an MPG calculation is a mandatory part of the environmental permit process in the Netherlands.
Lower is better. The statutory limit value is tightened periodically. Designs that remain well below the limit perform better environmentally.
The MPG can be reduced by using less material, choosing reuse, selecting biobased or renewable materials and designing for a long lifespan.
A life-cycle assessment (LCA) maps the environmental impact of one product or material. The MPG combines the LCA results of all materials in a building into one performance figure.
For steering the environmental performance of a building or product from the design phase, see Product Footprint or Regenerative design, or contact New Economy to explore the options.