5. Outlook

Following this presentation of the various aspects of eco-design, it is essential to group the various items of information around four dimensions which seem to underpin the deployment of this methodology.

• Simplicity

  Although eco-design is in fact an approach that draws on many scientific contributions, it is nonetheless much simpler than all the attempts that have flourished over the past decade. Indeed, it is based on a very simple principle: to focus on the flows generated by the operation of a building. It applies a very physical approach, which does not propose random combinations of means, often far removed from the objective pursued: to do better with less. There is no longer any confusion between management processes and the intrinsic quality of the object. The only criterion used is the effective reduction...