About the SD-MED Network
About us
The SD-MED Association is a joint Greek, French and international non-profit enterprise. Its aim is to strengthen cooperation in the field of Mediterranean development and sustainable construction. Its partnership concept is in line with French policy (as outlined at the Johannesburg Summit of September 2002) on the need to work together in the region in order to allow a common vision of the Mediterranean 's future to emerge. Our own goal is to push forward with European-Mediterranean partnership as conceived by the EU: as a partnership in an economic sense, serving the environment on the one hand, by confronting ecological imbalances and sharing in all the difficult choices of sustainable development, and serving humankind on the other, by concentrating on education, health, cultural empowerment, and homes. We place special emphasis on sustainable construction , because we think it is a good way of ensuring partnerships built around sustainable development and getting to grips with urban and regional building projects . The emphasis is, therefore, on sustainable construction and high environmental quality. Here Greece is in a position to become, above and beyond its own domestic potential, a centre of dissemination of ecological construction know-how throughout the Balkans and the East Mediterranean area.
We are especially grateful to France 's ambassador to Athens , H.E. Bruno DELAYE, and to the Economic Mission of his Embassy, which is a member of UBIFRANCE, for graciously agreeing to place our principal events for the period 2007-2008 under their aegis.
For the SD-MED Association
Dr Stella Kyvelou, President
Contributing to the international movement for progress
There are two ways of going about integrating the environment into an activity. One is to evaluate the quality of a product; the other is to conceive a product and bring it into being. The HQE procedure clearly implies the second of these ways, though it must of course be supplemented by verifying that the procedure conformed with the reference method and that the environmental goals are plainly stipulated. A sense of responsibility is thus built in to HQE: it places the works controller, at the front, and it enables the various elements of the operation, the implant site, the project's precise character, and the stakeholders' environmental policy, to be properly integrated.International approaches, and in particular those which ISO works involve, are of a universal nature, and can be applied in many different contexts. This is the thinking behind the HQE procedure, though the building sector is essentially a very local one. HQE is the fruit of mature reflection and French experiments. While it derived great benefit from studies and international action in the early 1990s, it is also anchored in building culture and the building profession, as these have developed in France . It was therefore very important to bring this approach face to face with various different practices - for which its potential extension to the Mediterranean basin offered rich opportunities. Ten years after it was first put into practice in France , the HQE procedure is well worth thinking about, in view of the improvements made to it and the adaptations of it to new contexts. Thus the Mediterranean viewpoint is a valuable aspect of HQE.
Worldwide, there are a whole host of approaches to building these days, and the progress made is regularly highlighted at conferences. This is an issue which affects normalization, both in Europe and globally, since it deals with environmentally 'heavy' domains as well as with economic and social factors. An important stage in this movement of international progress is to compare and contrast national methods and to progressively and collectively work out regional approaches, keeping the universal and the local elements carefully separate. The SD-MED procedure study on applying sustainable development to the building sector is a valuable contribution by the SD-MED Association , and a notable 'first'.
Dominique BIDOU
President of the HQE Association (1996-2006)
President of the SD-MED International Forum
The new cult of sustainable development is attracting more and more devotees every day. No public official today would dare express scepticism about it or indifference. But if the number of the faithful is constantly on the increase, the number of practising believers remains few. This is why we must congratulate Helene PAULAT and Stella KYVELOU on their study of the SD-MED procedure dealing with how to apply sustainable development for the building sector in the Mediterranean Area : it is a publication which will assist the inclusion of sustainable development in actual building practice.
I myself am a believer in the 'high environmental quality' (HQE) procedure , which I tried out when planning, building and making functional the Maryse Bastie College in Limoges, under the works control of the Limousin Region during my time as its president . I can see at least three major virtues in it. To start with, it takes into consideration the building project as a whole, from the materials used, to keeping the site in good nick, taking in on the way direct and indirect cost control. Next, when relating the building to its environment, the procedure is not confined to the immediate aims, but takes the medium term and the long term into account. Lastly, it is per se instructive, in that it sets an example for the players in the operation, for other works controllers, for future users of the building, and for public opinion at large. Of course HQE has an immediate cost: to judge from my own experience, this added cost is more an investment than a debit.
The SD-MED procedure is perfectly in the spirit of HQE. If a construction is to be in harmony with its environment, it must respect the individual character of the latter, whatever that may be. The Mediterranean area is not like any other. Its landscapes, its climate, and its peoples, with their history, culture, and way of life, naturally lead to an adapted version of the main principles of HQE: sustainable development has meaning only if it gives full play to spatial diversity. We are well aware how much the values of today owe to the Mediterranean world. It is vital for that world to go forward towards sustainable development without ceasing to be its own self.Robert SAVY
Hon. Counsellor of State
Honorary President of the Limousin Region
Architecte : Atelier 4, Rene PESTRE
Architecte : Atelier 4, Rene PESTRE
HistoryThe SD-MED initiative was given birth through a multiannual collaboration between a Greek interdisciplinary team (architects engineers, mechanical engineers, physicians etc. ) with specific interest and scientific work in sustainable development and building issues and some relevant French actors dealing with High Environmental Quality (HQE) in the built environment, idea and practice that is promoted with success by the Association HQE, an Association of public character, that is activated in France already since 1996, presided by M.Dominique BIDOU. This collaboration aimed mainly to create common sensitisation and dissemination actions.
The first common international event took place in Drama, in March 2001, with the initiative both of the President of the Enlarged Prefectoral Authority Drama-Kavala-Xanthi, M.Constantinos Tatsis and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Public Administration and Decentralisation, as well.
The establishment and shaping of the SD-MED Network was moreover enhanced by the collaboration of the same Greek Team with the International Network iiSBE, and more specifically with its Executive Director Mr.Nils Larsson and its Marketing Manager Mr Ronald ROVERS, as well as with the officer in charge of sustainable building programmes on behalf of OECD Mr Hirohisa AWANO. Later on, the UNEP/DTIE Programme showed particular interest for this initiative and is now participating officially and actively in the SD-MED Network, represented by M. Mustapha MOKASS, officer in charge of the recent initiative SBCI of UNEP/DTIE.
Nevertheless, the establishment of this informal, up to September 2004, SD-MED network became a reality, through the LIFE-ENV SB-MED Project whose Project Manager and then Scientific Responsible and Coordinator on behalf of the Municipality of Athens Development Agency (AEDA) was Dr Stella Kyvelou, Chairman of the Administrative Council of the Association SD-MED. This Project, currently ongoing, aims at the enhancement of trasferability of know-how concerning sustainable building from northern countries in the Mediterranean region, thus rendering Greece a centre of dissemination of know-how to the wider region. This project, mostly based on the French approach HQE is aiming at shaping a specific Mediterranean methodology based on the HQE, with an adaptability at a macro-regional level (methodology SB-MED). This study is currently ongoing by a team of experts and in cooperation with the Association HQE for all validation issues.
SD-Med FORA in France
Presidents and coordinating Teams
Address of Secretariat
Comments
• International SD-MED Forum , to be based in Paris
President : Dominique BIDOU, Honorary President of the Associations HQE and SD-MED
Coordinators: Nils LARSSON, Stella KYVELOU
Members: UNEP, iiSBE, CIB, OECD, SB05, SB08,GBC Spain, GBC Israel, WGBC, AWISH International and Presidents of UMAR, SNAL, EUROPA, AWISHHellas and SD-MED.
Paris ,
7, Rue Lhomond,75005
Tel: 0033621680427
e-mail: forum@sd-med.org
-Established already.
Main responsibility:
Leading International SD-MED activities
-Supporting the National Conference in St Raphael, March 2007
- Leading the SB07MED&EXPO Event-Time to present a first activity report : June 2007
• Academic SD-MED Forum , to be based in Paris/Limoges,
Presidents: Prof. Georges PREVELAKIS
( Universite Paris I-Pantheon-Sorbonne), Prof. Helene PAULIAT
( Universite de Limoges )Coordinator : Richard WITT
Assistant Coordinator: Stella KYVELOU( Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences of Athens , GR)
Members :
Yordan BOTEV ( Bulgaria ),
Ibrahim KABOGLU ( Turkey )
Nikitas CHIOTINIS ( Greece )
Vassilios TSIHRINTZIS ( Greece ) etc.
Paris ,
7, Rue Lhomond,75005
Tel: 0033621680427
e-mail: forum@sd-med.org
To be Established
at the beginning of the Year 2007Main responsibility:
-Leading Academic SD-MED activities
in the Balkans and the East Mediterranean
- Ensuring links with Universities-Time to present a first activity report : September 2007
• Standardisation/Certification Forum , to be based in Paris/Nantes.
Presidents : Jean HETZEL(FR), Justo GARCIA-NAVARRO (ES).
Coordinators (GR) : Dr Maria KAROGLOU (NTUA), Ntinos MANTIS, ( ELVAL, member of CEN )
members : to be proposed
Paris ,
7, Rue Lhomond,75005
Tel: 0033621680427
e-mail: forum@sd-med.org
To be Established
at the beginning of the Year 2007Main responsibility:
-Leading Certification SD-MED activities
in Greece , France and at the European and international level
-Keep SD-MED informed about ISO and CEN relevant works and ensuring links with them.Time to present a first activity report : September 2007
• Enterprise SD-MED Forum
President : Gaz de France, to be confirmed
Coordinators : Benoit LEMMEL, Miltos CHIOTINIS ( Local Coordinator)
Members :
Guy CHAUTARD (HQE Association )
Pierre TROADEC etc.
Paris,
7, Rue Lhomond,75005
Tel: 0033621680427
e-mail: forum@sd-med.org
To be established at the beginning of the Year 2007
Main responsibility:
-Ensuring contacts with eco-entreprises
-Leading the SB07MED EXPO part, helped by the HQE Association and the UBIFRANCE.SD-Med FORA in Greece
Address of Secretariat
Comments
• Local Authorities SD-MED Forum , to be based in Athens .
President : Athens Mayor or Vice-Mayor ( to be confirmed)
Coordinators : Prof. Lydia DRACAKI ( GR), Stella Kyvelou.
Assistant Coordinator : Vasso Skaramaga
Members : Mayor of Palaion Faliron, Mayor of St Raphael, President of the Syndicate of Local Authorities of the PACA Region, President or Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece, President of Drama-Kavala-Xanthi etc.
Athens ,
5, Fratti Str., 117 42
Tel,fax: 00302109235310
Mob: 00306944837586
e-mail: info@sd-med.org
To be established at the beginning of the Year 2007
Main responsibility:
Ensuring SD-MED links with Local Authorities in Greece , in France and in the West and East Mediterranean
• NGOs SD-MED Forum
Presidents: Nelli SAKELLARIADOU (GR),.. (FR).
Coordinator (GR): Nick PATSELIS
Members: to be proposed.
Athens ,
5, Fratti Str., 117 42
Tel,fax: 00302109235310
Mob: 00306944837586
e-mail: i nfo@sd-med.org
To be established at the beginning of the Year 2007
Main responsibility:
Ensuring SD-MED links with NGOs in Greece , in France and in the West and East Mediterranean
• Public Administration Forum
Presidents : Anne AZAM-PRADEILLES (FR), Efi BERGELE (GR).
Coordinators : Michel SENIMON (FR), Christos Chryssomallis(GR).
Members : to be proposed
Workgroup: to be proposed
Athens ,
5, Fratti Str., 117 42
Tel,fax: 00302109235310
Mob: 00306944837586
e-mail: info@sd-med.org
To be established at the beginning of the Year 2007
Main responsibility:
Ensuring SD-MED links with public administration in Greece , in France and in the West and East Mediterranean .
Our Institutional Partners
Partners
Thematic directions and field of cooperation
Main joint activities
Association HQE (FR)
Integration and implementation of sustainable development in construction and of environmental qualityin the built environment at all spatial scales ( building, city and neighbourhood, territory, region ),
in France , in South Europe and in the East and West Mediterranean
Transfer of French and Greek know-how on sustainable construction and environmental quality in South Europe and the Mediterranean
Participation in the SB05MED/LIFE Euro-Mediterranean Conference, Athens , 9-10-11 June 2005
SD-MED Process ( validation)
Co organisation of the next SB07MED&EXPO, Athens ,10-11-12 January 2008
Under the aegis of the French Embassy in Greece
Title : The Mediterranean city on the way to sustainable development: Environmental Quality and Health, Sustainability in Urban management and in Real Estate”
Mediterranean Union of Architects
( UMAR)
- Mediterranean Architecture and sustainable development
- Architectural and Environmental Quality of urban space and of the built environment in all spatial scales, in the Mediterranean.
- Management of architectural and cultural heritage and sustainable development
Support of the SB05MED/LIFE Euro-Mediterranean Conference, held in Athens , 9-10-11 June 2005
Co- host of the SB07MED to be held in Athens , 10-11-12 January 2008.
Syndicat National des Amenageurs Lotisseurs ( SNAL, FR)
- Sustainable development in spatial planning
- Sustainable development and urban planning
- Sustainable development in the urban project and in urban management
Co- host of the French-Hellenic Meeting on “Urban planning and sustainable development “ and the SNAL Visits in Athens , 15-20 May 2007.
Co- host of the SB07MED to be held in Athens , 10-11-12 January 2008.
OING « EUROPA »
-Public Management- Territorial Management and sustainable development
- Role of public services in the sustainable territorial management, in France , in Europe and in the Mediterranean
-Participation in the SB05MED, Athens , 9-10-11 June 2005
- Participation of the SD-MED Team in the Project « Guichets Uniques » of the DIACT/EUROPA
-Participation of EUROPA in the SB07MED&EXPO, Athens , 10-11-12 January 2008
-Participation of SD-MED in the Annual Events of EUROPA and all the EUROPA activities.