PNRR: The DNSH principle verification activities

The National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRP) presents an articulated package of reforms and investments designed to access the financial resources allocated by the European Union with the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), part of the post-pandemic recovery strategy under the Next Generation EU (NGEU) programme.
The plan foresees funds totalling EUR 191.5 billion, available and to be deployed over the period 2021- 2026, and proposes absolutely innovative ways of financial relations between the European Union and member states.
The final structure of the Plan envisages a total of 48 interventions, grouped into 16 components, which in turn fall under 6 macro-missions:



2. Supporting and assessing the 6 environmental objectives
The Regime for Recovery and Resilience (EU RRF Regulation 241/2021) stipulates that all NRRP measures must comply with the principle of ‘Do No Significant Harm to the 6 environmental objectives‘, identified in the Paris Agreement (European Green Deal).
This constraint translates into an assessment of the conformity of interventions to the principle defined as “Do No Significant Harm” (DNSH), with reference to the taxonomy system of eco-sustainable activities indicated in Article 17 of EU Regulation 2020/852.
As the Plan precisely requires that all DNSH constraints associated with a given intervention are met, we at Planex can support you in assessing the feasibility of your intervention and in managing the 6 environmental objectives as outlined below:
How can the construction of new buildings, renovation or retrofitting of buildings for energy efficiency comply with the DNSH climate change mitigation target?
Compliance with this objective MUST exclude for new buildings and renovations/renovations of existing buildings, a significant increase of greenhouse gases
greenhouse gases, i.e. energy use and carbon emissions must be minimised throughout the building’s life cycle.
GreeningLab will be able to produce the following documents
Pre-intervention documents
- Technical report indicating the interventions and solutions needed to ensure that energy efficiency requirements are met (for new buildings only);
- Energy Performance Certificate (APE) (for existing buildings only);
- Ex-post energy performance certificate (APE) simulation (for existing buildings only).
Post intervention documents
- Energy Performance Certificate (APE) to certify the NZEB near zero energy building classification (only for new buildings);
- Attestation certifying that the building’s global non-renewable energy performance index (EPgl,nren) is at least 20% lower than the reference global non-renewable energy performance index required to access the
reference energy performance index required to access the A4 energy performance classification. (for new buildings only); - Ex-post Energy Performance Certificate (APE) (for existing buildings only).
How can the construction of new buildings or the renovation or upgrading of buildings for energy efficiency meet the DNSH climate change adaptation target?
It is necessary to prepare a climate vulnerability and risk assessment to verify that the intervention does not lead to an increased negative impact on climate, people, nature and specific environmental assets.
You can rely on GreeningLab, which, together with a team of experts, can respond to this need by coordinating the following activities
- Screening of the asset in question to identify physical climate-related risks from among those listed in the table in Section II of Appendix A of the Delegated Regulation (EU) supplementing Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the Parliament and Council;
- Climate risk and vulnerability assessment to assess the significance of physical climate-related risks on economic activity (with reference to Section II of the aforementioned Appendix;
- Assessment of adaptation solutions that can reduce the identified physical climate-related risk.
GreeningLab, in close cooperation with a team of expert consultants, will be able to produce the following documents:
Pre-intervention documents
Adaptation analysis report during the design phase.
Post-intervention documents
Verification of the adoption of the adaptability solutions defined following the adaptability analysis carried out.
How can the construction of new buildings, the renovation or redevelopment of buildings aimed at energy efficiency, comply with the objective of sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources set out in the DNSH?
In order to comply with this objective, set to protect the water-saving of users, GreeningLab will support the selection phase of new equipment and new water-sanitary components of the project so that they meet the measures set out in the Ministerial Decree of 11 October 2017 on compliance with the Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM) and the product standards required. It will also collect and manage the required certifications and declarations.
GreeningLab will be able to produce the following documents:
Pre-intervention documents
At the design stage, devices must be used to guarantee compliance with International Product Standards
Post-intervention documents
Presentation of product certifications related to installed supplies
How can the construction of new buildings, renovation or upgrading of buildings for energy efficiency comply with the circular economy target of the DNSH?
GreeningLab, together with a team of experts in the field, can support you in the execution of the procedures involved in the management of waste produced during the construction of a new building, starting with the drafting of the waste management plan and the technical report, drawn up at the end of the works, indicating the waste produced, its C.E.R. code and its disposal treatment.
In line with the target, proof will be provided that at least 70% of the total weight of non-hazardous waste produced is destined for recovery processes, as indicated in the Ministerial Decree of 11 October 2017 on Minimum Environmental Criteria (M.E.C.).
GreeningLab, in close cooperation with a team of expert consultants, will be able to produce the following documents:
Pre-intervention documents
At the design stage, the Waste Management Plan must be drawn up
Post-intervention documents
Final report with an indication of the waste produced, showing its destination to an “R” operation
How can the construction of new buildings, renovation or redevelopment of buildings aimed at energy efficiency comply with the pollution prevention and reduction target of the DNSH?
In order to meet the demands of this objective, GreeningLab acts as the coordinator of a team of professionals in the sector who are able to support you in producing the practices for preventing, reducing and limiting the environmental impact of all activities involving the construction of new buildings. The team will provide general verification
- of the technical data sheets of the materials and substances used;
the Radon risk assessment; - Where required by regional or national regulations, the drafting of the Environmental Site Plan;
- the Soil and Groundwater Characterisation Technical Report.
GreeningLab, in close collaboration with a team of expert consultants, will be able to produce the following documents
Pre-intervention documents
- Drafting of the Waste Management Plan;
- Drafting of the Construction Site Environmental Plan (PAC), where required by regional and national regulations;
- Verification of the existence of the requirements for the characterisation of the site and, if necessary, its design;
- Verification of the Radon risk associated with the construction area and definition of any mitigation and control solutions to be adopted;
- Indication of the limitations of the hazard characteristics of the materials to be used on site.
- Census of Manufactures Containing Asbestos (MCA) (only for existing buildings)
Post intervention documents
- Final report indicating the waste produced and how it will be managed, showing that it is destined for an “R” operation;
- If carried out, give evidence of the characterisation of the site;
- With reference to Radon, give evidence of the implementation of any identified mitigation and control solutions
How can the construction of new buildings, renovation or redevelopment of buildings for energy efficiency comply with the DNSH objective on the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems?
GreeningLab, together with a team of experts in the field, can support you in the necessary checks to ensure the protection of biodiversity and valuable areas.
It is verified that the intervention site does not involve land indicated in the EU’s LUCAS survey and Directive (EU) 1513/2015 (ILUC), which corresponds to the definition of a forest or a Natura 2000 site. An appropriate assessment is conducted, including all necessary mitigation measures and verification of compliance with protected area regulations etc. If wood materials are used for the construction of structures, cladding and finishes, our support team will check the documentation to ensure that 80% of the virgin wood used is FSC/PEFC certified or equivalent certification. For further and other possible wood materials, the use of recycled or reused material for production must be proven.
GreeningLab, in close cooperation with a team of experienced consultants, will be able to produce the following documents:
Pre-intervention documents
- Verify that the location of the work is not within the areas indicated above;
- Verify the territorial sensitivities in relation to the presence of Habitats and Species under Annex I and II of the Habitats Directive and Annex I of the Birds Directive, also considering habitats and species indicated as “endangered” by the (Italian/European) Red Lists;
- Verification of wood consumption with definition of the intended conditions of use (FSC/PEFC certification or other equivalent certification for virgin or recovered wood)
Post-intervention documents
- Submission of FSC/PEFC or equivalent certification for both recovered/reused wood.
- Submission of technical data sheets for the material (wood) used (from reuse/recycling).
3. Measures and interventions
The above-mentioned measures and interventions that we support are aimed at specific targets and categories; find out on our GreeningLAB business unit website, descriptions of interventions aimed at:
→ Agricultural and Industrial production facilities
M2_C1_Inv_2.2 Agricultural park,
M2_C2_Inv_1.1: Agro-voltaic development
→ Residential Buildings and Public Administration
M2_C3_Inv_1.2: Efficiency in Court Buildings
M2_C3_Inv_2.1: Ecobonus and Sismabonus up to 110% for energy efficiency and safety of buildings
M2_C3_Inv_3.1: Development of district heating systems
→ School and sports buildings
M4_C1_Inv_1.1: Nursery and kindergarten plan and early childhood education and care services
M4_C1_Inv_1.2: Plan for the extension of full-time education and canteens
M4_C1_Inv_1.3: Strengthening school sports facilities
M4_C1_Inv_3.2: School 4.0: innovative schools, new classrooms and laboratories
M5_C2_Inv_3.1: Sport and social inclusion
→ Community houses and hospital facilities
M6_C1_Inv_1.1: Community houses and taking care of the person
M6_C2_Inv_1.1: Modernisation of the hospital technology and digital park
M6_C2_Inv_1.2: Towards a safe and sustainable hospital