Architecture Decarbonization Conference
On November 17, more than 300 architects gathered at the first Architecture Decarbonization Conference, where we shared the tools to move toward zero-emission construction.
The conference was organized with the collaboration of the AuS Architecture and Sustainability Group, the Architects’ Association of Catalonia – COAC, and the Higher Council of the Colleges of Architects of Spain, and featured the participation of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility, and Urban Agenda.
Our partner, Jade Serra, gave a presentation summarizing the research conducted over the past year with the decarbonization working group of the AUS Association – Architecture and Sustainability – of the Architects’ Association, where she is a member of the board of directors.
In the presentation, Jade explained the pattern detected in various countries as a decarbonization strategy for the construction sector and analyzed success stories through a review of the roadmaps of France, Denmark, and Finland.
Below, you will find a summary of the presentation and the full video.
HOW TO DECARBONIZE A COUNTRY?
Following the study of numerous decarbonization roadmaps in different European countries, a 5-phase pattern has been identified:
1. Experimental Phase – Benchmarking
2. Regulation
3. Databases
5. Life Cycle Assessment
6. Baseline and timeline of limitations
1. Experimental Phase – Benchmarking
Decarbonization roadmaps in Europe begin with experimental phases that essentially involve “STARTING TO COUNT EMISSIONS.”
To count emissions, we need steps three and four, which are a database of material emissions and a life cycle assessment methodology.
However, as steps three and four are not defined in this first phase, generic databases or methodologies are typically used, which usually come from technological institutes or universities that already have them under development.
This experimental phase is extremely important for three main reasons:
1. Testing tools
2. Knowing how much CO2 buildings emit to establish a starting point
3. Awareness. The moment I ask architects to start counting emissions, even on a voluntary basis, I initiate a revolution in the sector. A revolution that involves the implementation of processes, resources, and research.
2. Regulation of CO2 calculation
Once the experimental phase is complete, the first regulations are published and mandatory CO2 calculation begins to be required.
This regulation is necessarily linked to the development of steps three and four defined below.
3. Emissions database
The publication of an official material emissions database is necessary—either through manufacturers’ EPDs (DAP) or a generic emissions database based on material typology.
4. A standardized Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology
The methodology must define:
- the scope of the life cycle, defining which phases will be taken into account in the calculation
- the software validated to carry out the calculation
5. Timeline of limitations
From this point, I am ready to define a timeline of progressive CO2 limitations to reach neutrality by 2050 (or earlier).
To do this, I will start from the baseline defined in the experimental phase.
As a reference, European baseline averages of approximately 600 kg CO2/m2 over 50-year life cycles are being used.
DECARBONIZATION ROADMAPS UNDERWAY
In Europe, many countries have roadmaps underway, but for this presentation, we have analyzed only three countries. All of them are in the mandatory calculation phases and have limitation timelines to reach zero by 2050.
HOW HAS EACH OF THESE COUNTRIES DEVELOPED EACH PHASE?
1. EXPERIMENTAL PHASE
FRANCE
In France, the experimental phase stems from the work of a technological institute (CSTB), which began calculating emissions in 2016 through a voluntary “Positive Energy Carbon Negative” certification.
This is an open-source certification carried out using ELODIE software, which has been under development since 2014 with the support of CYPE.
DENMARK
Denmark starts from an 8-year experimental/benchmarking period using the DGNB certification, which is a certification of German origin adapted to the Danish system by the GBC together with the BUILD Technological Institute.
After this period, in 2020, the Ministry of Housing implemented the Voluntary Sustainability Class, also supervised by BUILD.
FINLAND
Finland, like Denmark, is a country with a population of about 5 million inhabitants, which gives it great flexibility when implementing experimental processes and regulations.
The experimental phase was proposed following a decarbonization roadmap suggested by the Ministry of the Environment in 2016.
This materialized in a 2-year experimental period from 2019-2021, coordinated by the Association of Architects and supervised by the GBCE.
Essentially, architects are asked to start counting freely.
To carry out the LCA, the following can be used:
- An EXCEL spreadsheet provided by the Association of Architects
- Private programs such as One Click LCA
- Or even some firms, such as the HELST studio, which develop and market their own tools
2. REGULATION
Once these countries close their experimental phases, they move on to regulation, which involves initiating mandatory CO2 calculation.
FRANCE
In France, the new construction regulation was published in 2020 and came into force in 2022.
This regulation includes improvements related to energy efficiency, but also incorporates inhabitant comfort factors and, for the first time, introduces life cycle assessment regulation to measure Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
DENMARK
Denmark approved the new sustainable construction regulation in 2021, establishing five impact areas and introducing terms such as resource efficiency, health, and, of course, CO2 calculation.
Furthermore, Denmark is among the first countries to start using the term Carbon Budget, which is the available carbon budget per capita to avoid exceeding 1.5 degrees of warming.
FINLAND
In 2020, Finland closed the experimental phase, and the new Low Carbon Buildings regulation is expected to appear between the end of this year and early 2023.
The regulation will include the national database, the LCA, and a timeline of limitations.
3. DATABASES
We move on to understanding how these regulations materialize. We start with databases, which must be free and open access. As we will see, some are based on standardized data through EPDs (DAP) provided by manufacturers, while others use generic emissions data according to material typology.
FRANCE
France has managed the creation of the database again through the CSTB Technological Institute. It is a database of standardized data through EPDs for materials and so-called PEPs, which are data for installations.
DENMARK
Denmark does not use its own database but instead uses the one proposed by the German Ministry of Housing, managed by a private software company. Unlike France, this database provides both standardized EPD data and generic data.
FINLAND
Finland is using two databases:
- A public database managed by the Syke Institute and the Ministry
- An unofficial but open-source private database that holds the EPD registry.
4. LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY
How do we transform all this data into an emissions calculation over a 50-year lifespan?
We need to define LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) methodologies,
- on one hand, the scope—which phases we will take into account in the calculation (from material production to use and demolition)
- and on the other hand, the authorized software.
FRANCE
Methodology: They start from the methodology used in the experimental phase, which they believe will help the transition to the new methodology.
It is worth noting that the new methodology includes a new factor: Dynamic Carbon, which is the biogenic carbon stored in materials.
Software: Regarding software, the ministry has published a list of authorized programs validated again by the CSTB, and we find 3 types of programs: those exclusive to energy analysis, those exclusive to environmental analysis, or those covering both.
DENMARK
Methodology: Denmark defines the LCA methodology based on 9 impact categories, including the GWP index – Global Warming Potential (CO2 and other gas emissions), acidification, energy use, ozone, etc.
Software: These nine indicators are included in the official software. It is the LCAbyg program developed by AAU – BUILD. Its use is recommended but not mandatory.
Additionally, it is noted that beyond the 9 indicators, there may be associated impacts that must be considered, such as effects on human health, radiation, and land use, among others.
FINLAND
Methodology: For their part, the Finns have planned an LCA methodology that distinguishes between building emissions and emissions from the sub-structure and groundworks.
Furthermore, what the French call the dynamic carbon index, they call the carbon handprint, which refers to the negative emissions of biogenic carbon stored in materials or the reuse of materials through circular economy strategies.
5 TIMELINE OF CO2 LIMITATIONS IN CONSTRUCTION
Finally, we review the CO2 limitations established by each of these countries:
FRANCE
Limit values have been in effect since 2022, starting from 640 kg / CO2 / m2 with limitations every 2 or 3 years and a total reduction of 35% by 2031.
DENMARK
Limitations will begin in 2023, distinguishing between mandatory and voluntary limits, the latter being more restrictive.
It has the peculiarity of providing data in annual values instead of multiplying it by a 50-year lifespan, because they understand that for certain buildings, the life cycle can extend to 80 years.
In any case, they start from values similar to France, which would be 600 kg / CO2 / m2 and anticipate a total reduction of 30-35% by 2029.
FINLAND
The Finnish Parliament approved carbon neutrality by 2035 and carbon negativity from 2040 onwards.
Regarding the forecast of limitations, mandatory calculation is expected to begin in 2023 with limitations starting in 2025, reaching reductions of around 60% by 2030.
CONCLUSIONS
Returning home, in Spain we have the Climate Change Law, which addresses the decarbonization of construction materials.
“Construction materials must have the lowest possible carbon footprint”
We have an active GBC with a developed roadmap and a VERDE certification that has been collecting data for years.
We have technological and scientific institutes such as ITEC with the BEDEC sustainability database, the Eduardo Torroja Institute, and the CSIC with the OPENDAP database.
We have the tools, and it is urgent that we get to work.
INFORMATION SOURCES
GENERAL SOURCES
Study by the Build Institute together with Ramboll consultancy on roadmaps
Carbon regulations – ONE CLICK LCA
SOURCES REGARDING FINLAND’S DECARBONIZATION ROADMAP
Reduced carbon footprints of buildings: new Finnish standards and assessments
CO2 database
Public website for low-carbon construction advice (Ministry of the Environment + GBC Finland)
Official regulation during the pilot phase
Study commissioned to ONE CLICK LCA regarding the regulation to be applied
Public guide for the preparation of Life Cycle Assessments (LCA)
Private programs for LCA preparation
– JOKOTAI
Public programs for LCA preparation
DENMARK
Build – whole life carbon report
National Strategy for Sustainable Construction
Voluntary Sustainability Class
AAU BUILD – Aalborg University
FRANCE
Software: ELODIE BY CYPE
RE2020 Regulation – Ministry for Ecological Transition
Official Journal of the French Republic – No. 189 of August 15, 2021
LCA Software: List of validated RE2020 software
