Boligudvalget 2019-20
BOU Alm.del Bilag 105
Offentligt
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The construction industry
Recommendations to the
Danish Government from
the Climate Partnership of
the construction industry
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Contents
5 green building blocks ............................................................................... 3
Point of departure
where are we today? ..................................................... 4
The 2030 vision of the construction industry ..................................................... 6
What are the obstacles and what can be done? .................................................. 8
An introduction to the proposals from the working groups ......................................... 11
Actual proposals from the construction industry ................................................ 12
Contributions from the working groups ........................................................... 13
Energy renovations of existing buildings ............................................................. 14
CO
2
reduction from operation of buildings ...................................................... 20
Design and the CO
2
content of materials in buildings ............................................... 26
CO
2
reduction at the building site ................................................................ 32
CO
2
reduction in the civil engineering sector ........................................................ 39
Participants in the five working groups ........................................................... 45
We stand together regarding climate targets through green growth
We, the 13 climate partnerships, have worked in-
tensely to resolve a both difficult and important task:
at one and the same time to develop actual proposals
to the Danish Government for which measures may con-
tribute to reaching the target to reduce Denmark’s CO
2
emission by 70% in 2030 and make Denmark a pioneer-
ing country to the rest of the world.
In relation to the task, our point of departure was that we
should make Denmark and the Danes richer and the world
more sustainable at the same time. If we are to reach the
target, it requires large-scale investments. Therefore, sus-
tainability and growth must go hand in hand. And therefore,
as a society we must be ready to prioritise investments in
the climate. The Danish business world is ready to take on
our share of the task in a close partnership with the Gov-
ernment and the Danish Parliament
and the rest of the so-
ciety.
Future economic growth is the basis for us being able to
afford solving the climate challenges in a way in which
we also have a good and well-functioning society. It re-
quires that we ensure Denmark’s
competitiveness and
create growth and new jobs while we convert climate
ambitions into action.
The climate challenge is global. We must reach our na-
tional targets without pushing activities abroad. We
must make an actual green transition of our society that
measurably reduces the emission of climate gases on a
global level
and it must be made through development
and not a shutdown. With our efforts as inspiration for ac-
tion, we are going to work internationally under the aus-
pices of the United Nations and the EU to ensure a reduc-
tion of the global emissions and to increase the develop-
ment of green Danish solutions that we can export to the
rest of the world.
In the 13 climate partnerships, we take joint action to con-
tribute to Denmark living up to the political goals.
We look forward to seeing that the proposals are passed
on to one concrete climate action plan which must com-
prise two clear targets. Contributing to solving the cli-
mate change in Denmark and globally while at the same
time ensuring a strong business sector, more Danish jobs
and a more affluent society.
For obvious reasons, the proposals from the 13 climate
partnerships have not been coordinated, and many pro-
posals are cross-sectorial and cross-industrial. The next
step will therefore be one climate plan. In this context,
it is vital that the total climate plan accounts for the
consequences of each individual initiative and that the
entire plan ensures that the green transition goes hand in
hand with continued growth and prosperity in Denmark.
We hope that all our proposals will be seen in the spirit
and context as we have described.
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5 green building blocks
When we look at all the activities influenced by
the construction industry, we look at a third of
Denmark’s CO
2
emissions.
From heat loss and operation of heating systems in
buildings
to builders’ cars, building site cranes and con-
crete production, we can do things much better. The in-
dustry is ready to deliver its share of the green transi-
tion in cooperation with the Government, the Danish
Parliament and the population so that together we can
realise the large CO
2
reductions that we are finding.
Eight out of ten of existing buildings will still be in use by
2050, and they represent 80% of the total assets of soci-
ety, so it is vital that we maintain and develop them into
a new climate future. The most important things are not
more money from the public purse, but a good frame-
work, requirements and demand. The solutions already
exist, so that we can build a greener Denmark. If we do
it right, and if we use the transition to increase exports
of materials and services, we will also become more af-
fluent.
Intelligent energy management and energy renovations
1.2 million tonnes of CO
2
/year.
The green transition will become faster and less expensive by reducing energy consumption in
the existing buildings and managing consumption intelligently. Thus, we are able to cut away
20-25% of the energy consumption in buildings by 2030. Implementation of energy efficiency
measures can reduce costs by billions, while at the same time provide better health and well-
being in accommodation, schools and nursing homes. As an industry, building owners and au-
thorities, we are going to pull together, and involve the financial sector.
From fossil fuels to green heating
1.8 million tonnes CO
2
/year.
The fossil fuels need to go so that Danish buildings are only heated by renewable energy.
That requires a general plan for replacing natural gas with climate-friendly alternatives at
400,000 buildings, and that RE-certified installers replace the last 100,000 oil boilers with
heat pumps. Finally, we must undertake renovation of the buildings to ensure the best
solution which saves money for electricity and heat to the homeowners.
CO
2
accounts for buildings
1.1 million tonnes CO
2
/year.
CO
2
accounts must be prepared for all buildings in the future. To enable this, we must know the CO
2
footprints of the materials so that we use the materials wiser and in the necessary quantities. To-
day, CO
2
accounts can be prepared, but only very few demand them. Therefore, CO
2
accounts must
be a demand in the voluntary sustainability standard and the building regulations, already from 2021.
There is similar potential as regards to civil engineering works such as roads, bridges and railways,
and therefore there must also be requirements for CO
2
accounts.
4
Fossil-free building sites
550,000 tonnes CO
2
/year
No more gas and diesel at building sites. We must use electrically powered forklift trucks
and cranes, and biofuels for the excavators. We want to replace diesel-powered genera-
tors and hot air generators for dehumidification of moist building materials with electric-
ity and district heating. With the right efforts, CO
2
emissions from building sites will be
entirely absent in a matter of 10 years. The Government can assist in securing access to
green energy and bio fuels, and that bio fuel is financially competitive.
Energy labelling for all buildings
Today, only one out of two buildings is energy-labelled. All buildings erected before 2000
should be energy labelled within five years. The label must include information about the cur-
rent state and possibilities of reduction of heating, electricity and water consumption and im-
provement of the indoor climate. It must be developed into a continually updated dialogue tool
between homeowners, energy advisers, builders and lenders. It is an important presumption to
have private homeowners start energy renovation.
If we have implemented the actual pro-
posals in this report by 2030, it would
have resulted in a total CO
2
reduction of
5,800,000
tonnes CO2 per year
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The point of departure
where are we today?
Buildings, bridges and roads account for 30% of
Denmark’s CO
2
emissions. That stems from the
building energy consumption, the building process
in connection with new construction or renovation
and production of building materials. The players of
the construction industry all form part of these
phases and therefore have a key role in the green
transition.
The construction industry employs 180,000 employ-
ees, and to this figure should be added architects, ad-
visers and employees of the building industry. They all
contribute in different ways to constructing and main-
taining
Denmark’s buildings and the vital infrastruc-
ture.
10% of Denmark’s CO
2
emission stems from
the production of building materials and
the building processes.
It is of great importance how we use materials in new
construction and in renovation projects. Therefore,
CO
2
accounts should be an integral part of the pro-
ject material in the future. Today, the industry’s
own
activities give rise to direct CO
2
emissions when con-
struction machinery and vehicles use fossil fuels. The
construction industry also plays an important role in
the circular economy because building waste consti-
tutes 4.5 million tonnes CO
2
a year, or well above
35% of all waste, of which 85%, however, is reused.
Therefore, industry actors also contribute in the cli-
mate partnerships for waste, water and circular
economy and for energy-intensive industries.
More than 20% of the CO
2
emissions de-
rive from heating and performance and
of the buildings stocks.
Danes spend nine out of ten hours inside buildings.
40% of Denmark’s energy consumption and 23% of
the
CO
2
emission derive from energy consumption in
buildings. Our businesses can assist in the replace-
ment of fossil energy sources such as oil and natural
gas with energy renovation of the existing buildings
and improvement of the indoor climate. And by using
intelligent management of energy consumption we
can reduce energy waste and use the energy when it
is most green and inexpensive.
The construction industry helps other in-
dustries reduce CO
2
We have chosen to present solutions in all the areas
where the industry actors can make a difference to the
climate. When the buildings are energy-renovated, less
production of district heating and electricity is needed.
When smaller amounts of new materials are used in the
building process, it means reduced CO2 emissions from
producers of materials and transportation firms. And
when all fossil fuels for the construction sites are
phased out, then we are contributing to implementing
the necessary electrification of society.
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40%
of
Denmark’s energy con-
sumption is used in build-
ings
35%
of all waste stems from the
construction industry
20%
of Denmark’s CO
2
emissions
stems from the energy con-
sumption in our buildings
10%
of Denmark’s CO
2
emission
stems from the construction
process and the production
of building materials
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Photo: Fredericia Municipality
The 2030 vision of the con-
struction industry
In 2030 we will have significantly reduced the CO
2
emissions from buildings. In a matter of 10 years, 25%
of the energy consumption will have been cut in the
existing buildings in Denmark. The last oil burners will
have been scrapped and replaced by electric heat
pumps, and we will no longer use natural gas for heat-
ing. Buildings will only seldom be demolished
it
costs too much in terms of the CO
2
accounts. Instead
we will renovate, change the use and create up-to-
date green buildings. All of it will occur with fossil-free
construction processes.
In 2030, there will be focus on reducing the energy con-
sumption and the CO
2
footprint each time a building is
constructed or renovated. Denmark adheres to the EU’s
Energy Efficiency First principle in the green transition.
That has caused homeowners to realise that it is less ex-
pensive to save than just spending energy even if it is
green. Homeowners, the state, municipalities and busi-
nesses are updating energy-efficiency each time they
renovate. Installations have been optimised so that en-
ergy waste is reduced, and through flexible energy con-
sumption buildings form active parts of the energy sys-
tem.
This development has resulted in a better indoor cli-
mate for the benefit of health, well-being, learning
and productivity, and it has liberated 760,000 tonnes
of biomass a year to be used in large machinery,
heavy transportation and heavy-duty industry. And
perhaps more importantly, the energy savings have
saved society from over-investing in energy produc-
tion and many new high-voltage electricity masts.
A binding target for implementation of energy efficiency
measures in buildings and industry of 30%, including a
binding target for heat savings in buildings, has made the
cost of the green transition DKK 14 billion cheaper. But
the world does not come to a halt in 2030, and therefore
we continue to work on implementing energy efficiency
Targets: If we implement the actual proposals in
this report by 2030, it will have resulted in a to-
tal CO
2
reduction of
5,800,000
tonnes CO
2
per year
That corresponds to a fifth of the necessary CO
2
re-
duction in Danish society until 2030. At the same
time, we will have cut the total energy consump-
tion in buildings by up to 25%.
measures so that society can save DKK 120-160 billion to-
wards a climate neutral Denmark by 2050.
In 2030, all buildings will have an energy label which
gives a precise and continually updated picture of the
status of the building and suggestions for improvements.
Home buyers demand climate-friendly accommodation,
and building owners use green loans to carry out energy
improvements. Banks, municipalities and energy advisers
assist in promoting the green choices. Public building
owners and non-profit housing associations have long-
term focus on durability, climate improvements and life-
cycle costs and thus function as a driving force for the re-
mainder of society. There are requirements for imple-
menting energy efficiency measures, CO
2
footprints and
indoor climate when renovations are made
adapted
to the age and type of the buildings. The owners and
homeowners build according to the ambitious require-
ments for CO
2
accounts when new buildings are
erected and renovations are made. The green solution
costs a bit more here and now, but it will pay back in
the long term.
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CASE:
50 times less CO
2
emissions in renovations
Demolition
and recon-
struction
Renovation with re-
use of the load-carry-
ing structure
1,625,000 kg of CO
2
29,000 kg of CO
2
Hedelunden: Renovation rather than demolition and new building reduces CO
2
emissions
The blocks of flats from the 1970s have been thoroughly renovated. It turned out that the renovation could be performed at a much lesser CO
2
foot-
print total than if the properties had been demolished and newly built. Inspired by Rambøll, 2018: Hedelunden CO
2
besparelse.
The use of fossil fuels for the machines will have ended
when we build and renovate buildings, roads and bridges.
Machines and service vehicles use electricity, biofuels or
electrofuels, whereas dehumidification of constructions
only takes place through the use of electricity or district
heating. When buildings are demolished, building parts
and materials are recycled in direct reuse or are re-uti-
lised for new materials in a circular building economy.
While the CO
2
emission in Denmark is being reduced,
we are strengthening the development of Danish busi-
nesses’ technology and know-how
on sustainable solu-
tions and thus the international competitiveness of the
construction industry. New political initiatives and in-
dustrial initiatives have been developed for the pur-
pose of integration in European cooperation, and Den-
mark has contributed to preparing common European
guidelines in the form of directives, regulations and
standards.
The Danish leadership in Europe contributes to ensuring
sustainable growth and Danish jobs, because our prod-
ucts and services are demanded in Europe and the world.
Businesses and employees in the construction industry
think along green holistic solutions, collaboration across
professional disciplines, the right choice of constructions
and building materials, high quality, long useful life and
low maintenance need, and on minimising waste in the
building process.
Employers and trade unions prepare businesses and em-
ployees for new solutions, requirements and frameworks
in the construction industry. Measurable positive effects
are stronger skills in businesses and employees, and con-
struction work delivered on the agreed time.
The steering group of the climate partnership:
Chairman Jesper Kristian Jacobsen, Managing Di-
rector of Per Aarsleff A/S
Vice chairman Ingrid Reumert, Vice President, Ve-
lux A/S
Vice chairman Peter Kaas Hammer, Managing Di-
rector of Kemp & Lauritzen A/S
Jakob Brandt, Deputy Director, SMVdanmark
Ib Enevoldsen, Managing Director, Rambøll Danmark A/S
Lene Espersen, Managing Director, Danske Arki-
tektvirksomheder
Michael S. Larsen, Managing Director, CG Jensen A/S
Henrik Frank Nielsen, Senior Vice President,
ROCKWOOL Group
Gunde Odgaard, Head of Secretariat, BAT-Kartellet
From left: Vice Chairman Ingrid Reumert, Chairman Jesper Kristian
Jacobsen and Vice Chairman Peter Kaas Hammer
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What are the obstacles,
and what can be done?
The businesses of the construction industry live in an intense competitive situation in both Denmark and in our
export markets in which the price is often of crucial importance. That means that some players cut corners and
underbid businesses who are in the lead with long-term solutions. This also applies to the public building own-
ers and the non-profit sector which are subject to framework that limits their possibilities of contributing to
developing the market for green solutions.
Lower energy consumption with intelligent management and energy renovations
The homeowners believe that they live in a modern home in terms of energy, but not many do. Therefore, many
building owners postpone necessary and profitable investments. Lack of interest in the energy consumption in
buildings forms a hindrance to renovations and intelligent management. Therefore, implementing energy effi-
ciency measures in Denmark is going at too slow of a pace.
Financing is a problem. Lessors cannot add costs for energy improvements to the rent, municipalities hit the con-
struction spending cap, and the politically approved budget of the National Building Fund impedes the implemen-
tation of energy efficiency measures in non-profit housing.
This is what we should do
The industry must:
advise the building owners and
recommend green solutions
cooperate with the financial sector
to develop new business models in
which the homeowners can pay for
implementing energy efficiency
measures via the ongoing operations
ensure better compliance with the
building regulations.
The Government must:
improve the financial incentive to implement energy efficiency
measures, e.g. through an improved deduction for builders, prop-
erty taxes and energy taxes
make demands on the use of life-cycle costs which prevents a
narrow focus on the here and now cost and not on the long-
term economy
adjust the rules so that municipalities etc. invest in energy improve-
ments and renewable energy
e.g. through ESCO models
increase the budget of the National Building Fund so that 120,000 so-
cial housing accommodations can be energy-efficient and modern
make demands for automation that prevents energy waste and uses
the energy when it is greenest
ensure better compliance with the building regulations.
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The industry must:
have more committed players in the state
RE approval scheme
create new solutions that make it easy for the
individual homeowner to switch to green alter-
natives.
The Government must:
lay down requirements for the efficiency
of heating installations
implement a national plan for phasing out natural
gas for heating
phase out oil burners towards 2030.
CO
2
accounts for buildings, bridges and roads
The focus in construction is still to deliver at a low price, because that is the most important thing for most
customers today. The problem is that this does not create climate-friendly solutions except for individual show-
case projects. For most people, it is a new and unfamiliar way of thinking regarding the CO
2
footprint and life
cycle calculations in the entire life of the building because the demand is so small.
This is what we should do
The industry must:
develop its “mindset” from an economic to
a life-
cycle cost /climate bottom line
work to promote that all constructions have CO
2
ac-
counts, that material optimization is made and
that product-specific environmental declarations of
content is in demand,
develop more and smarter solutions for calculating
life cycle analyses
reduce the footprint of CO
2
through increased inno-
vation with producers of materials by using more
renewable energy in the production.
The Government must:
make demands for the CO
2
accounts of buildings
in the building regulations from 2021 and set out
a requirement level of 12 kg CO
2
/m
2
/per year
adopt the voluntary sustainability class and set out
a requirement level of 8.5 kg CO
2
/m
2
/per year
revise the requirement levels on an ongoing basis
and make a step-by-step increase by 2023, 2025
and 2030
set up a working group to assess and further
develop methods, tools, requirement levels
etc.
establish a “support office” for SMEs, so that we in-
volve all in relation to developing EPDs (environ-
mental product declarations), use
the tool “LCA
Byg”
etc. as quickly as possible
incorporate LCA methods for bridges and civil en-
gineering works.
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electric generators and hot air generators for dehumidification of mois-
ture in the construction process.
The industry must:
protect construction works better against mois-
ture during construction and make energy re-
quirements in connection with dehumidification,
demand green machines and energy and imple-
ment the practical transition.
The Government must:
obligate utility companies to deliver green energy
for building sites when construction commences,
promote CO
2
free production equipment by
means of requirements and duties.
The energy label is the key to implementing energy efficiency measures in our buildings, and all buildings should
have one
and the quality of the labels must be ensured. Because there are quality problems. The current en-
ergy labels have been criticized for being defective, imprecise and rarely usable in practice.
As regards private homes, there is only a requirement of an energy label inspection in case of change of owner-
ship. That means that implementation of energy efficiency measures having taken place since the change of own-
ership, e.g. replacement of windows, are not reflected in the energy label. Therefore, the energy label and the
related recommendations for energy improvements quickly become obsolete.
The industry must:
participate in the development of the future en-
ergy label for buildings in collaboration with the
authorities
a reliable, digital and dynamic tool
which is updated when projects are carried out.
And which contains an actual plan for energy reno-
vation
contribute to developing the energy label so that
the financing institutions may use it in their advice
to homeowners and as a basis for loans for green
investments.
The Government must:
ensure that requirements are made for a mandatory
energy label for all buildings erected before 2000,
further develop the future energy label for build-
ings into a reliable, digital and dynamic tool,
which is updated when projects are carried out,
containing an actual plan for energy upgrading
that can be used by lenders as the basis for loans
for green investments.
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An introduction to the proposals
from the working groups
Photos: Jeppe Carlsen
At the request of the Government, the climate part-
nership for the construction industry has reviewed
possibilities for reducing CO
2
which the industry can
help contribute to. It has been an intensive process
over four months in which more than 100 business
managers and specialists have been involved in the
process, including owners, architects, consulting en-
gineers, producers of materials, contractors, build-
ers and selected experts.
Dive into the proposals
Five working groups have each provided proposals for
CO
2
reductions based on their themes:
Energy renovation of existing buildings
Reduce CO
2
emissions from operation of buildings
Design and the CO
2
content of materials in buildings
Reduce CO
2
emissions at the building site
Reduce CO
2
emissions in the civil engineering sector
The calculations of how much the various proposals may
reduce the emission of greenhouse gases take as their
starting point, to the extent possible, in official statistics,
such as the energy statistics from the Danish Energy
Agency or statistics from Statistics Denmark. In cases
where it has not been possible to base the calculations on
these sources, experience from the industry has served as
supplements. It may e.g. be for the CO2 emissions from
certain types of work in a building project. From there, it
has subsequently been scaled up to a total number for the
entire industry.
The potential savings are based on an estimate of how big
a share of the emission can be saved. All estimates are of
potential saving as many factors play a part in the devel-
opment. It may be that it is required that bids are made
in a new way, or that more electrically-powered ma-
chines must be developed. The estimates of the savings
have been made by the various working groups of the cli-
mate partnerships consisting of representatives of the
construction industry.
In the appendix report, all 63 proposals from the climate
partnerships have been described in detail, including the
assumptions of the estimated CO
2
reductions.
Calculation of CO
2
effects
27 of the proposals are described on the following
pages.
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Actual proposals from the
construction industry
If we implement the actual proposals in this re-
port by 2030, it will result in a total CO
2
reduc-
tion of 5,800,000 tonnes of CO
2
per year
(corrected for overlaps).
Here is the overview of all the
27 prioritised initiatives. “Enablers
are necessary initia-
tives that pave the road for the others. “
Initiatives
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
CO
2
reduction in tonnes Page Theme
1,540,000
1,055,000
608,000
560,000
510,000
304,000
280,000
275,000
220,000
200,000-600,000
177,000
162,000
146,000
100,000
75,000
70,000
70,000
66,000
61,000
57,000
50,000
42,000
Enabler
Enabler
Enabler
Enabler
Enabler
23
*
29
16
23
29
24
36
30
37
42
42
43
37
35
24
24
17
16
43
43
17
18
35
36
30
30
CO
2
reduction from operation of buildings
Transversal proposals
Design and CO
2
in buildings
Energy renovation of existing buildings
CO
2
reduction from operation of buildings
Design and CO
2
in buildings
CO
2
reduction from operation of buildings
CO
2
reduction at the building site
Design and CO
2
in buildings
CO
2
reduction at the building site
CO
2
reduction in the civil engineering sector
CO
2
reduction in the civil engineering sector
CO
2
reduction in the civil engineering sector
CO
2
reduction at the building site
CO
2
reduction at the building site
CO
2
reduction from operation of buildings
CO
2
reduction from operation of buildings
Energy renovation existing buildings
Energy renovation of existing buildings
CO
2
reduction in the civil engineering sector
CO
2
reductions in the civil engineering sector
Energy renovation of existing buildings
Energy renovation of existing buildings
CO
2
reduction at the building site
CO
2
reduction at the building site
Design and CO
2
in buildings
Design and CO
2
in buildings
Phasing out natural gas for heating
Conversion of builders’ vehicles to
being elec-
trically powered
Dissemination of LCA and targets for CO
2
10% lower heat consumption
Intelligent management of energy consumption
Project-specific climate accounts in tenders
Replacement of oil burners
Fossil-free production equipment at the build-
ing site
Reduce the material consumption and CO
2
emission in the design
Fewer materials and less waste
Fossil fuel and emission-free plant machinery
Transition to electric vehicles on the roads
Use of new types of cement
Optimized planning and layout at the building
site
CO
2
free dehumidification and heating
Optimisation of heat pumps
Renovation of technical installations
Package solutions for energy renovations for
homeowners
120,000 energy-efficient social housing units
Climate-friendly asphalt
Digital solutions: Robots, Additive Manufactur-
ing and digital twins
Public investments in heating savings
The energy label must be an active tool for en-
ergy savings
Electricity and district heating at the building
site
CO
2
accounts for the building site
Development of underlying data and systems
Requirements of the building regulations and
sustainability class from 2021 with a step-by-
step tightening towards 2030, and develop-
ment of technical common ownership
* Described in further detail in the appendix report
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5,800,000
tonnes of CO
2
per year
Energy renovation of existing
buildings
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Energy renovation of existing buildings
Most of today’s buildings stem from a time without
particular focus on energy efficiency, and 80% of
them will also be used in 2050. Therefore, imple-
mentation of energy efficiency measures in the cur-
rent buildings is vital to reach our climate targets.
Lower energy need in buildings contributes in a number
of ways to the climate target:
1. Reduces the CO
2
emission
2. Lowers the cost of transition of the energy system to
renewable energy
3. Releases climate-friendly energy, e.g. biomass which
is currently used for district heating production, for
use in the industry.
14 initiatives that in 2030 will contribute to
reducing heat consumption by 10%:
5TWh (18 PJ) corresponding to the capac-
ity of three Horns Rev 3 windfarms
Great profits to reap
Today, 30% of the energy is used for heating. A reduc-
tion of the energy consumption for heating at 10% until
2030 will reduce the CO
2
emission, which is today at
about 6 million tonnes while at the same time provid-
ing a number of other gains:
That makes the bill of the green transition about DKK 6
billion cheaper up to 2030, i.a. as a result of lower re-
source consumption and larger efficiency of the energy
system. Lower energy consumption entails fewer invest-
ments in expansion of renewable energy and thus makes
the green transition easier and faster.
Also, it releases biomass which can be used in other
sectors such as industry, which faces a big challenge in
relation to the transition.
It is possible to witness a quick effect as the initiative
relating to buildings can be started right away with well-
tested and well-documented solutions.
Top 5 initiatives
Package solutions for energy renova-
tion for homeowners
14
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Potential in dwellings and public buildings
The large potential of heating savings is found in single-
family houses and terraced houses, in social housing and
public buildings. More than half of the total energy con-
sumption for heating is used in single-family houses.
We spend more than 22 hours of the day and night in-
doors. Energy improvements often also contribute to
a better indoor climate which is vital to our health
and well-being. This derived effect increases the so-
cio-economic gains of energy efficiency measures.
There is a large demand for maintaining and renovat-
ing buildings and creating attractive dwellings, both in
the public sector and in social housing. The public sec-
tor alone has a maintenance backlog estimated at DKK
50 billion
1
. Many renovations are both necessary and
profitable and give the possibility of reaping large sav-
ings in energy. A targeted effort in these sectors can
create a larger scale to the benefit of the development
of new solutions and products.
Information
For instance, clearer energy requirements in the housing reg-
ulations and an enhanced energy label, which also focuses on
indoor climate, can contribute to ensure energy savings that
we fail to obtain today.
Financing
Grants and attractive loans promote energy improvements.
Vision: In 2030 energy-efficient buildings
will have contributed to faster and
cheaper green transition.
With the right initiatives, we can have a housing stock
in 2030 in which:
Heat consumption has been reduced by 10%
Clearer energy requirements in the building regula-
tions ensure that the demands are complied with,
so that neither building owners nor society fails to
obtain profitable energy savings. Better possibili-
ties of financing have increased the renovation
rate.
Social housing units are renovated on an ongoing
basis
The National Building Fund has financial frame-
works to renovate and create attractive and en-
ergy-efficient social housing units without straining
the public finances. Queues of tens of thousands
approved renovation projects are a thing of the
past.
The public sector is in front
The public sector has been given the opportunity
to lead the way by making its own buildings more
energy efficient and through dialogue and targeted
activities motivate homeowners, building societies
and businesses to enhance energy efficiency.
Far more homeowners implement energy renovation
A systematic effort with stronger financial incen-
tives and better communication ensures that the
homeowners no longer miss out on the possibility
of energy optimisation.
Barriers
There are many decision-makers and stakeholders who
have very different assumptions when millions of build-
ings in Denmark are going to be made more energy-effi-
cient. The energy consumption for heating has been on
the increase for the past years. That seems to indicate
that energy renovations have not been carried out to the
extent necessary. The most important barriers are:
Framework conditions
Many public building owners and the social housing
sector have a professional approach to energy sav-
ings. But renovations are slowed down by frame-
work conditions such as the construction spending
cap and inadequate frameworks for the National
Building Fund.
Knowledge and economic incentives
Many private homeowners lack the required
knowledge and a financial incentive to under-
take energy renovation.
Solutions
The building and finance sector plays an important role as
ambassadors for implementing energy efficiency
measures. But we all need to be involved. To have our
buildings made more energy efficient there is a need for
both a carrot and a stick in the right combination of:
Requirements
For instance, municipalities and regions can make de-
mands for an ambitious energy label when lease
agreements are concluded such as the state already
does today.
Incentives
A greener Housing-Jobs scheme deduction with the
possibility of saving deductions for a number of years
for large initiatives can lead to more and more in-
depth energy renovations with homeowners.
Main results: Saves 560,000 tonnes of CO
2
in 2030
Reduction of the heat consumption by 10% in 2030 cor-
responds to 5 TWh (18 PJ)
or the capacity of more
than two large wind energy farms (Horns Rev 3). That
will entail a reduction of a CO
2
emission of 560,000
tonnes/CO
2
per year.
The overall target has been supplemented by another
four proposals for actual initiatives, that each contrib-
utes to reaching part of the target. But to realize the full
potential, it is vital that an effort is made within private
trade and service. The three initiatives are within four
types of buildings in which there is large energy saving
potential: single-family houses, terraced houses, social
housing and the public sector. The proposals have been
prioritised according to how quickly they can be imple-
mented.
1: Dansk Byggeri 2019, Kommunernes rolle i klimakampen Analyse af
potentialet for energibesparelser (the Danish Construction Association
2019: The role of the municipalities in the climate challenge; an analy-
sis of the potential for energy savings)
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1
10% lower heat consumption
If the energy requirements for existing buildings of
the building regulations are complied with and the
number of energy renovations are increased, the
energy consumption for heating can be reduced by
1% a year.
Energy improvements pay off for the individual home-
owner and society. The industry must take responsibil-
ity, but the initiative must be supported by a target in
the climate action plan.
Energy improvements in buildings must be made in
connection with the ongoing maintenance in order to
be cost effective. That is why the building regulations
contain energy requirements when various building
parts are renovated. Towards 2050, DKK 727 billion
must be invested in the basic renovation of the building
envelopes. The extra investment of living up to the en-
ergy requirements of the building requirements is
about DKK 40 billion
2
Ultimately,
it is the owner’s responsibility that the
energy requirements are complied with, but the industry
must ensure that it takes place in far more cases than to-
day. That must be done by informing the building
The estimated annual effect of the initiative
in 2030
CO
2
reduction:
tonnes
Savings in heating:
5 TWh
(about 18 PJ)
Saved biomass:
760,000 tonnes
Can be initiated from
2020
owner of rules and solutions and giving quotations and
calculations of the project which are in compliance
with the rules. Builders must have better knowledge
of energy requirements, and it must be clearly speci-
fied in the building regulations how to meet the re-
quirements.
In the future, failure to comply with energy require-
ments should be sanctioned.
2: SBI 2017, Varmebesparelse i eksisterende bygninger potentiale og øko-
nomi (SBI 2017: Heat savings in existing buildings, potential and economy)
560,000
2
120,000 energy-efficient social housing units
The social housing sector can most quickly deliver
large energy savings in the existing housing stock. A
queue of approved renovation projects can be
started at short notice.
Every tenth social housing unit faces renovation. This
primarily takes place through the residents’ own sav-
ings in the Danish Housing Fund (LBF). Use of the sav-
ings depends on the financial framework of LBF, which
presently does not match the need. That has created a
queue of approved renovation projects in 60,000
dwellings of DKK 17 billion.
Altogether, about 120,000 social housing units
should be renovated by 2030. In addition to an im-
portant CO
2
reduction, it will save 500 GWh and
78,000 tonnes of biomass.
The estimated annual effect of the initiative
in 2030
CO
2
reduction:
tonnes
Savings in heating:
0,5 TWh
(about 1,7 PJ)
Saved biomass:
78,000 tonnes
Can be initiated from
2020
The assumption is that LBF’s financial framework is in-
creased in connection with the Housing Agreement 2020.
The public finances are not strained as the funds in LBF
are the residents’ money.
61,000
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3
Public investments in heat savings
It is a natural thing that the public sector takes ac-
tion in the political climate target and reduces the
energy consumption for heating in its buildings.
Many municipalities are ready to invest in necessary
profitable energy initiatives in municipal buildings, but
they are slowed down by limitations in the construction
spending cap. There is much to be achieved. By way of
example, 70% of the 23,000 municipal buildings have a
poor energy label (D-G) to the detriment of both the cli-
mate, the indoor climate and the economy of the munic-
ipalities.
EU’s requirement for 3% implementing energy effi-
ciency measures in public buildings should also apply to
municipalities and regions. If the potential for savings in
heating must be met, energy-related projects must be
exempted from the construction spending cap. By 2030,
no public buildings should have an energy label poorer
than C.
The estimated annual effect of the initia-
tive in 2030
Savings in heating:
0.4 TWh
(1.4 PJ)
Saved biomass:
49,000 tonnes
Can be initiated from
Further incentives for a better energy standard can
be created for public institutions if the executive order
stipulates that municipalities and regions make de-
mands on an ambitious energy label when they enter
into lease agreements
which the state must do today.
Thus, the entire public sector can increase demand for
energy-efficient buildings.
4
Package solutions for energy renova-
tion for homeowners
The very large potential for savings in heating is
found in single-family houses which represent 54%
of the Danish energy consumption for heating. Six
out of ten of these buildings have a poor energy
label (D-G).
Even if it is a bargain, the homeowners do not energy
renovate to an adequate extent. In order to get the mar-
ket going, it is suggested to develop renovation packages
adapted to archetypes of houses. The initiative can reap
one third of the potential of 2.1 TWh (7.4 PJ) and
222,000 tonnes of CO
2
, respectively. It must be followed
by other initiatives if the full potential is to be realised.
The packages should contain thoroughly prepared
proposals for measures such as loft insulation, new
windows, heat pumps etc. and should be offered sys-
The estimated annual effect of the initia-
tive in 2030
thematically to homeowners. Builders and financing in-
stitutions are central communicators to the homeown-
ers. The positive impact of the measures on indoor cli-
mate, comfort and functionality is included to increase
motivation. These measures should be supplemented by
better financing options, such as saving of deductions
for builders over a number of years or better loan condi-
tions for green investments.
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5
The energy label must be an active tool
for energy savings
The energy label must be a dialogue tool when a builder
or other adviser is in dialogue with the homeowner
about improvements of the home. This also applies to
the financing sector. However, it implies that the label
give a truer, fairer and more understandable view and
give actual measures. The energy label should be the
action plan on which renovation measures can be
planned based on the replacement rate for the individ-
ual building parts that have various useful lives, win-
dows, roofs etc. In addition, the energy label should in-
clude indoor climate matters such as draft and chill,
condensation and mould fungus, noise and daylight.
Estimated effect of the initiative
Enabler for reduction targets
Can be initiated from
2020
Digitalisation of the label must ensure that the energy la-
bel becomes a dynamic tool in which both the building
owner and builders may add ongoing energy improvements.
Objects
Interior
1 year
Installations
Facade
50 years
Structure
100 years
Foundations
Forever
The elements of a building and their typical useful life before replacement is necessary. World Green Building Council: Bringing Embodied
Carbon Upfront: https:/
/www.worldgbc.org/news-media/bringing-embodied-carbon-upfront
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Other initiatives for implementation of energy efficiency measures
of existing buildings
A green element in the property tax
Revitalisation of renewal of buildings and main-
taining the role of the Building Damage Fund in
relation to implementing energy effective
measures of privately owned multi-storey homes.
energy savings
through exemption of all energy-related construc-
tion work from the construction spending cap
10% binding targets for reduction of the energy
consumption for heating in 2030
A green element in the property tax
Revitalised building renewal and a role for the
Building Damage Fund in the implementation of
energy efficiency measures in buildings
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5,800,000
tonnes of CO
2
per year
Operation of buildings
Implementation of energy
efficiency measures
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CO
2
reduction from
operation of buildings
A large share of the Danish energy consumption and
climate footprint is in the operation and heating of
our buildings. That can be reduced significantly
with green transition and implementation of energy
efficiency measures.
In total, operations and heating of buildings in 2017
constituted about 40% of the Danish energy consump-
tion, and about 23% of the CO
2
emission from energy.
Towards 2030, the energy consumption for heating of
buildings will slightly be decreasing.
The largest sources of CO
2
emissions in the building
stock are heated with fossil fuels such as oil and gas.
With a number of cost-efficient measures, it is possible
to reduce the CO
2
emissions from the buildings signifi-
cantly over the next 10 years. Operation of buildings
thus involves large potential in the efforts to meet the
targets of the Danish Climate Act of a 70% reduction.
1
The five concrete initiatives mentioned below can
reduce the CO
2
emission from the buildings by 86%.
14 initiatives with an estimated potential of
2,500,000
Top 5 initiatives
tonnes CO
2
per year
Can be implemented:
2030
Natural gas for domestic heating is
phased out and replaced by green al-
ternatives.
Cheaper transition for a more robust en-
ergy system
Our energy consumption must be moved from fossil fuels to
electricity which is produced when the wind is blowing and
the sun is shining. The increasing electricity consumption
and the more varied production make new requirements on
the energy system in 2030.
The pressure on the energy system becomes smaller
when we optimise building operations so that we use
less energy. The green transition will be significantly
more expensive if no energy efficiency measures are
implemented.
2
Renovation of technical installations
Incentives and better observance of re-
quirements ensure optimisation of the
installations in buildings.
1: Green Transition Denmark: Bygningers andel af energiforbrug og
udledninger (2019)
(the share of buildings’ energy consumption and
emissions (2019), the Danish Energy Agency: 2019 Basic projection
(2019)
2: EA Energianalyse: Analyse for det samfundsøkonomisk potentiale for energibe-
sparelser (2019). (Analysis of the socio-economic potential for energy savings
(2019). The study shows that it will be DKK 3-4 billion more expensive per
year, if no energy efficiency measures are implemented in all sectors.
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Optimised operation of buildings can contribute
substantially to the green transition in two ways:
Cheap CO
2
reductions
Energy-efficient operation of buildings will reduce
the energy consumption and is one of the cheapest
socio-economic ways for the necessary CO
2
reduc-
tion towards 2030. The Danish Council on Climate
Change assesses that energy renovation of buildings
and dissemination of individual heat pumps are
among the most appropriate elements of the transi-
tion.
3
Robust and efficient energy system
Reduction and balancing of the energy consump-
tion in buildings over the entire 24 hours reduces
the need for importing energy and investing in
electrical grids and larger energy production from
i.a. solar cells and wind energy. By making the en-
ergy consumption for operation of buildings flexi-
ble by means of intelligent energy management, it
becomes possible to move consumption to the peri-
ods when the power is green and cheap.
This is how we speed up the transition
To get the most out of the concrete CO
2
reducing initia-
tives, there is a need for a number of supporting initia-
tives
so-called enablers. This applies to i.a.:
Making demands for total cost of ownership
A large share of new constructions, ongoing
maintenance and renovation of buildings is made
with a very narrow focus on the cost here and
now, and not on the long-term economy. Total
cost of ownership is a way to ensure that the
building owner has long-term focus on erection
and operation of the building so that the most op-
timal and thus energy-efficient solutions are cho-
sen. Therefore, it is suggested that stricter re-
quirements for using total cost of ownerships are
made, that better basis for calculation and actual
guidelines are developed, and that a total cost of
ownership label is implemented for new construc-
tions and in case of large renovations.
Focus on operations
Operation of buildings is typically not a focus area
for businesses or homeowners. This means that
energy consumption is not followed closely and
ongoing optimisation of energy consumption is not
a priority so that it does not increase over time.
Operation of buildings can to a greater extent be
put into focus by automatically collecting data on
the energy consumption in the buildings and de-
veloping key figures that make it easy to follow
the development and spot additional use.
Promote flexible energy consumption
A very large share of the Danish energy consump-
tion is used for heating, ventilation and cooling of
buildings.
Much of the consumption can be shifted
without having any large practical difference in the
use of the building. Shifting enables a balancing of
the consumption, and that is of great importance to
the price paid for the energy. Flexibility requires in-
telligent energy management of the installations, and
it must be easy and financially attractive to the con-
sumers to contribute with flexibility. For instance,
through more dynamic energy prices and new business
models.
Let the public sector be the driver behind the
development
Together with the publicly supported construction
in the non-profit sector, the public building owners
are the largest Danish building owners. It will there-
fore have a significant impact if the public sector
and the cooperative housing society lead the way
and make climate requirements for their own build-
ings. It is also proposed that municipalities and re-
gions are charged with preparing climate action
plans for their own CO
2
emissions.
The right framework will take us a long way. Subse-
quently, five concrete initiatives are proposed which to-
gether can deliver a reduction of 2.45 million tonnes of
CO
2
in 2030 and 41 PJ (petajoule) in energy consumption
further in relation to the Danish Energy
Agency’s basic
projection 2019. Together that will provide an 86% re-
duction in CO
2
emission and a 17% reduction in energy
consumption in comparison to 1990.
3: https://www.klimaraadet.dk/da/rapporter/omstilling-frem-mod-2030
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1
Replacing natural gas
Natural gas for domestic heating must be replaced
by green alternatives.
Today, approximately 400,000 buildings are heated with
natural gas. They must be transferred to renewable en-
ergy by replacing the natural gas with biogas or switching
to district heating or heat pumps.
The necessary changes are expensive and take a
long time to implement. It is vital that a central politi-
cal decision is made in relation to what should happen
to natural gas, as soon as possible.
If gas is kept for heating of buildings, an efficiency
requirement towards 2030, must be made which, re-
Estimated effect of the initiative
1,540,000
tonnes CO
2
per year
Can be implemented:
2030
duces the gas consumption by about 80%. If biogas
should not be used for heating of buildings, the instal-
lation of natural gas boilers should be prohibited. So
that other green solutions are promoted.
2
Intelligent management of energy consump-
tion
More intelligent management of the energy con-
sumption can help us in using the energy when it is
green and cheap.
Intelligent energy management can reduce the en-
ergy consumption and integrate various automatic
building controls so that they do not counteract and
move consumption to periods when the energy is
green and cheap.
Automatic building controls are used on both indi-
vidual installations for e.g. lighting, ventilation and
heating and in more integrated systems and intelli-
gent buildings. The large potential lies in large build-
ings, but more systems become available, targeted at
private customers and thus smaller buildings.
Estimated effect of the initiative
510,000
tonnes CO
2
per year
Can be implemented:
2025
Much of the automatic controls should be manda-
tory in new constructions and renovations, and
standards for building automatic controls must be
made. Consumers must have access to energy data
of buildings and installations from smart meters.
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3
Replacement of oil boilers
There is a need for requirements and prohibitions
to get rid of the remaining oil boilers.
100,000 homes were still heated by oil in 2017.
4
Despite
many attempts to speed up the replacement, there will still
be 40,000 active oil boilers in 2030 if further measures are
not initiated. Information campaigns, energy savings grants
and scrapping premiums are not enough.
It is suggested that requirements should be made
that all oil boilers must be replaced by 2030 and pro-
hibit installation and replacement of fossil oil boilers
Estimated effect of the initiative
280,000
tonnes CO
2
per year
Can be implemented:
2030
from 2021. The requirement is supported by an initia-
tive of the industry to get more installers involved in
the renewal certification scheme.
4
Optimisation of heat pumps
Requirements for service of heat pumps and fit-
ters increase the energy efficiency.
A study
5
shows that nine out of ten heat pumps do not per-
form optimally. Some of the profit from switching from oil
or natural gas boilers is therefore not gained. This problem
gets bigger as we get more heat pumps. By ensuring a bet-
ter installation and service of heat pumps, it is possible to
improve heat pump performance by 16%.
It is proposed that the industry develops a joint in-
dustry standard for servicing heat pumps to ensure
Estimated effect of the initiative
70,000
tonnes CO
2
per year
Can be implemented:
2025
optimum operation. It is also suggested that public subsidy
regimens make it mandatory to use a business which is a
member of the state renewal certification scheme.
5
Renovation of technical installations
Financial incentives and better observance of re-
quirements can optimise the existing installations in
buildings.
Despite the fact that renovations of technical installa-
tions are energy-saving, financially profitable as well as
having a short repayment period, they are rarely realised
by the building owners. In particular small and medium-
sized businesses have more focus on the day-to-day op-
erations.
Renovations of ventilation, lighting, cooling and
heating installations are promoted by adjusting the
current financing scheme, e.g. the Housing-Jobs
Estimated effect of the initiative
70,000
tonnes CO
2
per year
Can be implemented:
2025
scheme, and spread municipal experiences with energy
screenings. Authorities and the industry must clarify
needs for documentation that certain requirements in
the building regulations have been met.
4: https://ens.dk/sites/ens.dk/files/Statistik/opvarmningsundersoegelsen.pdf
5: The Technological Institute: Den gode installation af varmepumper (2017)
(The good installation of heat pumps)
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Other initiatives for CO
2
reduction from operation of buildings
1. Strengthen the possibilities for internal
use of surplus heat
Surplus heat should also be used to avoid en-
ergy waste.
2. Create easier access to energy data
Data on ongoing energy consumption strengthens
the assumptions for optimising the operation.
3. Strengthen ongoing service of buildings
The energy consumption of buildings increases
over time if the technical installations are not
maintained.
4. Use buildings for storage of energy
With increasing quantities of fluctuating RE in
the energy system, buildings must act as energy
storage and balance consumption.
5. Make energy sources competitive
Bring down barriers that discriminate CO
2
friendly
energy types.
6. Adjust tariff structure and payment of
electricity, gas and district heating
The consumers’ payments of energy should
support flexible consumption and implementa-
tion of energy efficiency measures.
7. Adapt the building regulations and
strengthen compliance
The rules of the construction industry must
ensure a low climate footprint and low en-
ergy consumption. The compliance is inade-
quate, and contravention is sanctioned too
seldom.
8. Focus on overall economy
Too much construction and renovation are
completed with the focus on the lowest possi-
ble construction price and not on long-term op-
erating efficiency and climate impact.
9. Let the public and social housing sectors
lead the way
Speed up the development by letting the public
sector and the non-profit housing associations
lead the way.
It is a cornerstone in the green transition, and so-
cio-economically beneficial to reduce energy con-
sumption by 20-26% until 2030. The energy saving
efforts have been under-prioritised for years.
The rules should support the 70% target, and there
is a need to strengthen compliance.
Taxes should reflect the climate footprint and
promote investments in implementation of energy
efficiency measures and flexibility.
Strengthen access to energy data with clear guide-
lines, standards and instructions.
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5,800,000
tonnes of CO
2
per year
Design and
materials
Operation of buildings
Implementation of energy
efficiency measures
The construction industry
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Multi-story housing construction in the Port of Aarhus.
Design and the CO
2
content
of materials in buildings
Potential in new construction
10% of the CO
2
emission stems from production of build-
ing materials, and within new construction it can be
reduced by 50% in 2030 through increasing focus on
design and use of building materials.
Requirements in the building regulations and the upcom-
ing sustainability class must be used to promote the devel-
opment. The requirements must be made now and in-
creased step-by-step until 2030.
About 80% of the reduction takes place in that the in-
dustry, before 2030, builds at the best known sustaina-
bility level in 2018. That requires that tools for imple-
menting life cycle analyses (LCA-Byg) are completed
and form part of all stages of the construction and in all
construction work.
The last part of the reductions is made by implement-
ing new innovative solutions, putting them into use as
soon as possible, and by building material producers
generally basing their production on greener energy
mix. That takes place, i.a. by using new demo con-
struction works as reference construction for industry.
LCA must be put into use in case of large renovation pro-
jects where it will also promote the recycling of materi-
als. The potential for reducing CO
2
in renovation has
not been estimated due to lack of data.
20 initiatives with an estimated potential of
1,130,000
Top 5 initiatives
tonnes of CO
2
per year
Estimated implementation:
2021-2030
Project-specific climate accounts in
all tenders.
The industry develops and
uses project-specific climate accounts
in tender material.
Barriers can be broken down
The building industry is ready to use LCA in construction
already now, and there is some knowledge and experi-
ence in Denmark and abroad. However, the building in-
dustry is fragmented, and there is a need to increase the
skill level in all elements of the chain, and in both large
and small businesses. Most of the industry’s barriers are
removed most easily by making demands for LCA calcula-
tions and about maximum CO
2
in the construction work,
starting with 8.5 kg CO
2
/m2 per year in the sustainability
class and 12 kg CO
2
/m2 per year in the building regula-
tions. The requirements will be increased towards 2030.
Development of a data basis for LCA
in construction
The industry develops a transparent
data basis as the foundation for statu-
tory requirements regarding LCA in the
construction.
be updated, such as guidelines,
contractual bases, norms etc.
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Removing barriers entails that public authorities take
responsibility to ensure:
Better data
The available data basis is limited and must be
developed together with industry.
Better tools
The available tools (LCA-Byg) have been devel-
oped on an ad hoc basis and with private grants
from foundations. There is a need to accelerate
the development with the support and quality
control from public authorities, and assistance
with the use of tools by small and medium-sized
businesses.
Recycling and re-use
Functional requirements in the legislation may be a
barrier to the reduction of CO
2
, for instance by in-
creasing material consumption or preventing new
innovative solutions.
Altogether, towards 2023 there will be a need for
public investments at DKK 35 million for development
of data basis, tools, scrutiny of statutory require-
ments and revision of technical requirements and a
support office for SMEs.
Demonstration and innovation should be
promoted
Advisers and producers of materials must increasingly
use materials with a low CO
2
footprint in a life cycle
perspective, reduce material consumption, use recycla-
ble materials, optimise calculation methods, use new in-
novative solutions, share knowledge and contribute to
developing technical joint property.
We must have more construction work that is designed
with materials with a reduced CO
2
footprint in order to
develop reference construction for the industry. The
public sector and large owners must lead the way and
invest in demo construction work.
Requirements for materials and energy must be balanced with indoor climate require-
ments.
struction. The requirement is set to 8.5 kg CO
2
/m
2
per year from
2021 and increased in 2023, 2025 and 2030
The building regulations must also make demands for a maximum
of CO
2
emissions in all stages of the construction work. The de-
mand starts at 12 kg CO
2
/m
2
per year in 2021 and is used to sort
out the most CO
2
burdensome projects. The requirement will be
increased step-by-step towards 2030. From 2023, LCA calculation
and maximum CO
2
emissions become an alternative to energy cal-
culation.
The public sector and large owners have led the way by using
the sustainability class as a reference. Building societies, pri-
vate owners and advisers have followed suit, when from 2020
financing models had already been developed to promote new
construction with a low CO
2
footprint and use of climate ac-
counts and contribute to those in charge of project work, advis-
ers and performers use LCA by default in all stages of the con-
struction work.
Already in 2021, the necessary tools and guidelines will have been
developed to carry out a transparent LCA calculation for the con-
struction work in its entire useful life. There will also be sufficient
data to make CO
2
requirements for the entire useful life of the
construction work. All tools and methods have been developed
in collaboration with relevant government agencies, experts and
representatives of the construction industry. Methods are devel-
oped in accordance with European methods, including EN 15804.
Producers of materials and industries have also developed the
required environmental product declarations (EPD) which are
subject to relevant control and traceability of data and which
prepare material passports. Municipalities and private owners
have established demo platforms that contribute to innovative
and optimised construction.
The sustainability class in play now
The upcoming voluntary sustainability class for con-
struction supports the entire process. It can promote
the development of the construction work and Danish
export opportunities as was previously the case in rela-
tion to the voluntary low-energy classes of the building
regulations.
The sustainability class should be seen as a regulation
aspect. It must be possible to allow for solutions with
long lifecycles. Already now, there should be a target
for maximally 8.5 kg CO
2
/m
2
per year. Clear targets in
the sustainability class will motivate the industry to
innovate.
Vision and ambition
By 2030, the embedded CO
2
in materials will be reduced
by 50% seen in proportion to 2018. That has occurred by
increasing demand for constructions with a lower CO
2
footprint:
The sustainability class must set out requirements for a
maximum of CO
2
emissions in all phases of the new con-
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1
Dissemination of LCA and targets for CO
The public sector and large owners must set CO
2
tar-
gets for the total construction during its useful life
in connection with tenders and make demands for
the use of LCA calculations in order to document
compliance with the demands.
This is made visible in climate accounts which are also
an element of the requirements of the tender mate-
rial. Thus, the owner encourages the players of the
construction work to undertake responsibility and each
contribute to the total reduction.
Digital, product-specific environmental product
declarations for the most substantial building parts
and material passports and building passports must be
in demand.
2
Estimated effect of the initiative
608,000
tonnes CO
2
per year
Can be implemented:
2020-2030
The voluntary sustainability class sets up ambitious
requirements from 2021. The state, municipalities
and private owners use these in bids and in the de-
velopment of local plans.
Typical standard house built for low energy class 2015.
2
Project-specific climate accounts in tenders
An industry standard is developed for project-spe-
cific climate accounts based on LCA calculations of
the entire construction work and of materials and a
building passport.
The requirement for use of climate accounts is incorpo-
rated into tender material, including requirements for
ongoing follow-up through the stages of a project, which
oblige the adviser and contractor to inform the owner
about the total CO
2
footprint.
The tool LCA-Byg is used to develop data so that
the building process is optimised. That will reduce
waste and CO
2
emission in all stages and increase the
possibility of reuse and recycling.
Estimated effect of the initiative
304,000
tonnes CO
2
per year
Can be implemented:
2023-2030
Requirements are used to create demand for product-
specific environmental declarations for the most sub-
stantial building parts.
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3
Reduction of consumption of mate-
rials and CO
2
emission in design
The public sector and large owners must contribute
to the demo construction work which demonstrates
proposals for solutions based on CO
2
targets for the
building in its entire useful life.
Municipalities and private owners can promote demo con-
structions in collaboration with advisers and suppliers.
The LCA-Byg tool must be used to develop new so-
lutions. All actors must work towards the same CO
2
targets/m
2
by means of a standardised LCA proce-
dure.
The voluntary CO
2
targets must help the construc-
tion actors avoid over-dimensioning and waste, plan
Estimated effect of the initiative
220,000
tonnes CO
2
per year
Can be implemented:
2021-2030
optimal logistics at the building sites and choose mate-
rials with a minimal CO
2
footprint in its entire useful
life.
The initiative will make demands regarding purchases and
the supply chain and is estimated to contribute 1% reduction
per year towards 2030.
4
Development of underlying data and sys-
tems
An effort to reduce targeted embedded CO
2
in mate-
rials starts with the development of reliable data.
Reliable data is a basic assumption for transparency,
traceability and effective documentation of con-
struction products, including product-specific envi-
ronmental product declarations and materials pass-
ports.
The CO
2
emission from the construction is best
minimized by building energy and resource efficiently
and looking at the entire useful life of the building.
LCA and data must be developed to support this.
Estimated effect of the initiative
Enabler for reduction of targets
Can be implemented:
2020-2022
A basis and market for recycling and reuse of mate-
rials must be created so that construction industry ac-
tors can choose materials that contain recycled materi-
als and can be circulated efficiently.
Materials liberated in demolition must be reused or
recycled as materials of new products.
5
Development of the sustainability
class and technical joint property
Authorities and the construction industry use the
sustainability class to develop construction and en-
sure the content of all material parameters for sus-
tainable construction work.
Authorities and the industry must work for the develop-
ment of the right framework conditions and guidelines,
and that experiences are made available in BBR (the Dan-
ish Buildings and Homes Register), energy label and other
databases.
The industry will influence and support the updat-
ing of technical joint property (contractual basis,
norms, BYG-ERFA) and will enter into cooperation to look
Estimated effect of the initiative
Enabler for reduction of targets
Can be implemented:
2020-2022
into legal requirements in construction, including revision of
security factors, labelling schemes, norms etc.
The industry works for the visual profiling of particu-
larly sustainable construction work, e.g. in that DGNB
makes projects that especially reduce the CO
2
emission
per m
2
, visible.
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Project: FBAB Lisbjerg for Al2bolig. Architect: Vandkunsten. Photo: Helene Hoyer Mikkelsen
Other initiatives for design and the CO
2
content of the material in buildings
Use LCA in all stages
1. Owners and advisers use product-specific EPDs
2. Owners use climate accounts and set targets
for CO
2
levels and reuse
waste must be
rendered visible
3. Increased documentation of construction
4. Develop an industry manifesto for sustainable
construction
Climate accounts to be put up to tender
5. Develop and use industry standard for cli-
mate accounts in tenders and BBR
6. Reference targets for CO
2
/m
2
7. Procurement rules are scrutinised
Reduce consumption of materials
8. Set CO
2
targets for all construction work and
renovations
9. Design circular construction with focus on re-
source-demanding building parts and reducing
waste
10. Use LCC-Byg as a calculation tool and em-
ploy existing frameworks for overall econ-
omy
Tools
11. Develop product-specific EDPs, material
passports, digital building passport and EDP
at system level
12. Develop structure and standards for reuse and
flow of material for recycled materials
13. Producers set targets for resource consump-
tion and consider a Product Service System
where feasible
14. LCA-Byg must be further developed into a stand-
ard tool on par with BE15 and include waste in
LCA
15. Strengthen the international standardisation work
Update technical joint property
16. Documentation and traceability of the resource
consumption of the construction are included
in public databases
17. Develop reference buildings
18. Develop a replacement database
19. Update guidelines, lists of examples and
calculation models
20. Change calculation rules for construction
work, i.a. safety coefficients and calculation
of areas.
Financial incentives
Identify how incentives can be created to reduce
embedded CO
2
in the construction, among other
things
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5,800,000
tonnes of CO
2
per year
The building site
Design and
materials
Operation of buildings
Implementation of energy
efficiency measures
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The construction industry
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CO
2
reduction at
the building site
The CO
2
free building site is a possibility
Today, there are a number of CO
2
sinners at the building
sites, i.a., large diesel-powered machines, building
waste, damaged or erroneously ordered materials and die-
sel generators to hot air generators that run continuously
to dehydrate the construction work and render working
conditions acceptable.
With the proper technology, planning and a long haul
towards other habits and collaborative relationships,
we can rid ourselves of the sinners and remove the
vast majority of the CO
2
emissions from building sites
before 2030.
The majority of the initiatives that we describe are
“known materials”. A number of large businesses
already have good experience from e.g. halving the
fuel consumption in digging machines based on
hybrid technology and reducing the waste of mate-
rials by 50% from the first house until the last house
which is erected.
The good cases show that CO
2
and economy thrive to-
gether. But there is still a long way to the CO
2
free
building site.
6 initiatives than can save
850,000
Top 6 initiatives
tonnes CO
2
per year*
will be implemented from
2021-2030
Price focus and practical barriers
The good examples we have found all stem from large
actors in the construction industry. But the vast majority
of businesses at Danish building sites are businesses that
focus on delivering the ordered construction work on
time, at the agreed price and to the agreed quality. Most
opinions reveal that CO
2
is not a focus.
The construction market is, to a wide extent, based on
the cheapest price. Proposals that make the work more
difficult without gains in relation to time, price or qual-
ity cannot function without demands from owners, incen-
tives or through legislation, so that all players in the
industry are put on an equal footing.
*the initiatives are based on savings in relation to the current stage.
Electricity is considered CO
2
neutral in all initiatives.
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Challenges can be dealt with, but it does
not happen automatically
It requires a broad range of solutions to as many
challenges to reach the finish line:
We must know the emission through CO
2
accounts
Accounts will require that the industry reach a
common goal. But it requires tools that are easy
to use and more knowledge which we do not
have now. Assisted by CO
2
accounts, detailed
planning of procedure, materials and logistics
will lower the CO
2
emissions.
Electricity at building sites
Electricity will convert diesel consumption into
green electricity (or district heating), but that re-
quires that the utility companies become faster at
delivering the necessary supply so that the en-
ergy-intensive dehumidification and heating are
limited.
Save and reuse materials
Good for the CO
2
accounts, but it takes time. The
materials must be dismantled with care and find
new owners. Recycled materials can have changed
properties (e.g. wood does not have the same
strength, or the materials may have absorbed sub-
stances dangerous to the environment or health).
It requires that we know what we are doing and
adapt the legislation.
An end to diesel for construction equipment
Most can already be powered on biodiesel, but bio-
diesel is more expensive. Electricity/battery pow-
ered machines are still in the making, and in many
cases they cannot be delivered yet. There is a trend
for good financial/CO
2
win-win situations, and in
Denmark we would like to be the showcase.
With the six initiatives, we can reduce the CO
2
emis-
sions from building sites significantly. The initiatives 1
and 4 are so-called enablers, which do not in them-
selves have any CO
2
impact, but are basic conditions
for the other measures to be able to have full effect.
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1
Electricity and district heating at the build-
ing site
Electricity supply and district heating at the
building site make it possible to convert ma-
chines and dehumidification into CO
2
neutral
propellants.
An adequate electricity supply and established district
heating plugs for building sites are no matters of
course when a building site starts. If it were, the en-
ergy consumption could be converted from all types of
machines and from dehumidification and heating into
green energy types.
Therefore, it is suggested that demands are
made for an adequate electricity supply and district
heating (where possible) before the building site
Estimated effect of the initiative
Enablers to other measures
Can be implemented:
2021
commences. The initiative does not cover construction
of e.g. bridges and roads.
That will imply changes to the planning before com-
mencement and propellant requirements for tools and
machines as well as demands on the utility companies for
timely delivery.
2
CO
2
free dehumidification and heating
A large share of the energy consumption in the
building process can be CO
2
free.
In the building process the consumption is what corre-
sponds to two or four years of heating of the subse-
quent construction work. The vast majority of the en-
ergy consumption is used in dehumidification of moist
materials and heating of the construction.
There are good possibilities of obtaining CO
2
neutral dehumidification and heating by:
Demanding heating and dehumidification by
means of electricity or district heating
Placing isolated site accommodation in clusters to be
heated with heat pumps
Using concrete elements which have been dehu-
midified and concrete types with a smaller water
content
Estimated effect of the initiative
75,000
tonnes CO
2
per year
Can be implemented:
2021
Covering constructions so that they are not ex-
posed to precipitation thus needing subsequent
dehumidification
Demanding permanent or isolated windows and
doors before dehumidification
Planning dehydration outside the winter season
and close shells in the winter
Create incentives for savings, such as payment of
energy consumption at the building site.
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3
Fossil-free production equipment at the
building site
There is large potential in converting construc-
tion vehicles into fossil-free energy.
Diesel is the primary propellant in the machines at the
building site. By converting to fossil-free propellants,
we can remove both CO
2
and air pollution.
It is proposed that:
- small machines of less than 75 kW may only
be powered by electricity/battery from 2025
- large machines of more than 75 kW may only be
powered by electricity, batteries or fossil-free fuel,
such as hydrogen, by 2030 at the latest. For a transi-
tional period leading up to 2030, the barriers (price)
for biofuels
must be removed.
That will require a strategy for an implementation of
CO
2
neutral propellants, including taxes.
* The impact of the initiative constitutes 60% of a total effect at 442,500
tonnes CO
2
for the three part initiatives concerning machinery as calcu-
lated and detailed by working group 5.
Estimated effect of the initiative
4
CO
2
accounts for the building site
CO
2
accounts for the building site strengthens the
focus on CO
2
of all parties.
When we know the CO
2
emissions from a building site,
we can make efforts in the right places, e.g. by re-
ducing orders made in error, ensuring building mate-
rials in due time and location and reusing building
waste in a circular way.
It is suggested that demands are made for CO
2
ac-
counts for all large building sites.
But doing it is not so easy. The calculation:
CO
2
for purchased materials ÷ returned goods and (mi-
nus any deductions for materials that can be reused)+
CO
2
for transportation of materials + CO
2
for energy
Estimated effect of the initiative
Enabler to other measures
Can be implemented:
2022
consumed at the site including builders’ vehicles ÷ CO
2
for built-in materials
is not possible today, and will
quickly become a large administrative cost. To get the
most out of the efforts, the CO
2
accounts should be
closely connected to a life cycle analysis (LCA). In the
long term, targets should be made for the CO
2
emission of
building sites, and a tool for the calculation of CO
2
should
be developed.
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5
Less waste from the building site
There is great potential in changing habits and plans
for recycling and reusing more on building sites.
About 7-15% of the total material consumption in
building sites ends up as waste. That contributes to
creating the 4.5 million tonnes of waste per year
from the construction industry.
It is suggested that a better nationwide structure
be established for the reuse of waste so that it be-
comes easy to sort for recycling and promote a circu-
lar economy. In general, more knowledge and experi-
ences are needed if we are going to increase reuse
and recycling of materials in the building industry to
a large extent.
Estimated effect of the initiative
200-600,000
Step-by-step implementation
tonnes CO
2
per year
Much of the initiative is also about habits such as or-
dering the right quantities and sizes, being more care-
ful with the materials and using the waste better. The
initiative is to a large degree promoted by the CO
2
ac-
counts.
6
Optimised planning and layout of the
building site
Better planning reduces CO
2
emissions at building sites.
Better planning of the layout of the building site and
material flow give rise to a better building procedure
with fewer errors, efficient use of materials and man-
power, a lower CO
2
footprint, lower costs, better col-
laborative relations and a shorter building period.
It is suggested that the planning is strengthened by:
• ordering “bits and pieces” which you would other-
wise have to drive extra to collect
using digital warehouse containers to ensure that the
right building materials are present
planning in detail to a larger extent, such as the size
of gypsum boards to get the best use
Estimated effect of the initiative
100,000
tonnes CO
2
per year
Can be implemented:
from 2021 to 2030
The industry itself can make an effort to improve hab-
its and further incentives so that the one who makes
the planning also gets a share of the profit. Require-
ments for CO
2
accounts will also be of help.
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Other initiatives for CO
2
reduction at the building site
Plan ordering of electricity and district heat-
ing for sites in due time
Convert machines and equipment into fossil-
free fuel or electricity/district heating
Plan site accommodation in clusters and with
heat pumps or district heating
Plan the use of concrete elements (which have
been dehydrated) and concrete types with a
smaller water content
Cover constructions so that they are not ex-
posed to precipitation thus needing subsequent
dehumidification
Plan and install permanent or isolated win-
dows and doors before dehumidification
To the extent possible, try to avoid construc-
tion in the wintertime which requires dehu-
midification. Construction in the winter period
should be made indoors
Participate in establishing frameworks for
CO
2
accounts for the building site to get the
largest effect with as little trouble as possi-
ble.
Incorporate incentives in tenders, such as calcu-
lation methods for saving energy at the building
site. Focus on CO
2
also before it becomes a re-
quirement. There is both CO
2
and money to ob-
tain. For instance, plan which size of gypsum
boards provides the best use, or order pre-fab-
ricated boards in case of repeated work
Order and spend the required time on planning
of general logistics, such as location of cranes,
access roads and placing of materials
Order and spend the required time on plan-
ning the flow at the building site, including
which materials should be used when
Carry out weekly planning when plans for the
upcoming weeks are matched against materi-
als, and “bits and pieces” are ordered which
you would otherwise drive extra to collect. Or
use digital storage containers at large building
sites; they are getting a foothold now.
The utility companies must establish (green)
power supply and district heating (where possible)
at building sites for six to eight weeks. Time: now
For a transitional period, the barriers for
biofuels must be removed
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5,800,000
tonnes of CO
2
per year
The civil engineering sector
The building site
Design and
materials
Operation of buildings
Implementation of energy
efficiency measures
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CO
2
reduction in the civil
engineering sector
The civil engineering sector uses many energy-inten-
sive materials and large machinery
For the past years, the investment level in the con-
struction market has been about DKK 50 billion includ-
ing municipal road maintenance and the Danish Road
Directorate’s operation and winter services.
The CO
2
footprint for the civil engineering primarily
comprises two individual areas:
The activity at the building site by using mate-
rials and machines
Use of the dominating types of material,
asphalt and
concrete.
Therefore, there has been special focus on CO
2
reductions
2
in these areas, but of course also contemplation of pro-
cesses, other types of material etc.
Based on the work, a wide range of initiatives have
been identified, which have been boiled down to 17
particularly interesting initiatives.
The condition for the selected initiatives in the civil
engineering sector was that they:
would involve larger potential for a reduction
of the carbon footprint
2
could be implemented by 2030.
17 initiatives with an estimated potential of
683,000
Top 5 initiatives
tonnes CO
2
per year
Can be implemented:
2030
New production equipment is being de-
veloped so that it will be emission-free
during the 2020s.
Transition to electric vehicles on the
roads
The majority of the civil engineering
sector’s fleet of vehicles can be
pow-
ered by electricity in 2030.
What is the civil engineering sector?
The civil engineering sector performs construc-
tion work including motorway bridges, port facil-
ities, pumping stations, road systems, surfacing,
draining, supply plants and special products.
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The possibilities of the industry
Common visions
Large parts of the CO
2
emissions of the construction
work stems from the use of concrete. Therefore, cli-
mate partnerships have worked together with the
concrete industry, and its vision about a 50% CO
2
re-
duction from 2019 to 2030 is fully consistent with the
vision of the civil engineering sector.
Machines and equipment.
With contributions from all the significant actors
(owners, contractors, advisers and lessors of machin-
ery), the industry has fine opportunities of activating
the potential of CO
2
reductions from the use of mate-
rials and machinery at the building site.
Of course, it is very obvious that conventional diesel-
driven machines are not used. Electrically powered ma-
chinery is the target, but it requires replacement of the
equipment, and as regards the largest machines the con-
version to electricity will entail considerable develop-
ment work, which is not likely to take place within a
short time horizon. In a transitional period the use of
biofuel can reduce the carbon footprint considerably.
Most diesel-powered machines can be converted to
use biofuel without significant changes.
Types of material.
When the construction work is so material-intensive, it is
of great importance that the producers of materials, in
particular within concrete and asphalt, continue to im-
prove production methods and develop more climate-
friendly materials.
Digital tools and design.
However, it is not solely technical changes of the machines
with conversion to more climate-friendly propellants that
involve interesting potential of CO
2
reductions.
The use of digital tools and models in connection with
design and performance of construction work has
considerable possibilities of optimising the projects
so that the construction work is minimised, and ma-
chines can perform the works with much less hour
consumption and consequently a smaller carbon foot-
print.
The influence of the civil engineering
sector in other areas
Initiatives in the civil engineering sector with a mod-
est impact on the direct carbon footprint can have a
large effect on other areas. The transition to climate-
friendly asphalt not only has a positive effect in the
civil engineering sector, but also for the cars that are
driving on the roads, because lower rolling friction
gives less fuel consumption and thus a smaller CO
2
emission.
Another example is climate proofing, because care-
fully prepared construction work for protection
against floods can be performed at a much lower CO
2
footprint than the carbon footprint connected with
dehumidification, renovation, demolition and rebuild-
ing of houses and construction work after the many
more and more dramatic floods which are also ex-
pected in the years to come.
Legislation, barriers and incentives
The construction industry has considerable possibili-
ties, by means of new processes, of improvement of
materials and use of digital tools to reduce the car-
bon footprint. However, in some areas there may be
a need to create incentives, make demands or create
the necessary framework conditions.
Thus, there will be a need that public and private
owners base the projects on, and make demands for
the use of digital solutions and other CO
2
reducing
processes. The requirements can be supplemented
so that it becomes mandatory to prepare CO
2
ac-
counts and a low carbon footprint will have a vital
importance for granting the assignments.
Among the framework conditions, it is important that
no requirements are made for use for machines that
are powered by biofuel or electricity, without:
an investment possibility being provided
the necessary biofuel being available
the necessary charging points being established.
It will therefore be necessary that political decisions
ensure the availability of CO
2
friendly energy and per-
haps through fiscal legislation promote conversion into
electricity as a propellant.
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1
Fossil fuel and emission-free plant machinery
New machines are developed so that the pro-
duction equipment can be emission-free during
the 2020s.
In the transition period to electricity, alternative pro-
pellants are used such as biogas. There will be a need
to adapt taxes, create security of supply of bio pro-
pellants and improve charging points.
The development must be driven by require-
ments, at first for the four environmental zone
cities, and later by requirements in tender mate-
rial from the state and municipalities for fossil-
free and emission-free construction work.
In addition, there must be focus on user conduct.
Estimated effect of the initiative
177,000
tonnes CO
2
per year
Can be implemented:
2030
Co
2
on the construction sites and mandatory train-
ing of machine operators will reduce the fuel con-
sumption of the machinery.
It will further the development if the environmental
zone legislation in Denmark will
comprise EU’s stage
norms for construction machinery.
2
Transition to electric vehicles on the roads
Most of the car fleet of the construction industry
can be converted into electrically powered vehicles
with the existing technology.
The large car fleet of the construction industry (per-
sonnel carriers, platform trucks and ordinary cars) are
driven by diesel and petrol to a large degree. A transi-
tion to electrically powered vehicles can give rise to
considerable reductions in the emission of greenhouse
gases.
The conversion can be made on an ongoing basis in
line with the replacement of the car fleet, and that
there will also be more and more choices for electri-
cally powered vehicles.
The gradual replacement of the car fleet can be
made on an ongoing basis from 2021 and be con-
Estimated effect of the initiative
162,000
Can be implemented
2030
tonnes CO
2
per year
cluded in 2030 when the technological development
is expected to render it possible to also convert the
largest vehicles to the effect that all diesel and pet-
rol-powered vehicles will be phased out.
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3
Use new types of cement with a
smaller contents of cement clinkers
New alternative materials for replacement of ce-
ment clinkers can reduce the carbon footprint in the
production of cement by 30%
The production of cement for concrete constitutes
about 90% of the total CO
2
emission of the concrete.
The CO
2
emission from the production of cement
stems both from the energy consumption for heat-
ing of the ovens and from the chemical process that
takes place when chalk is heated and transformed
into cement clinkers.
Aalborg Portland A/S develops new alternative ma-
terials that can replace about 30% of the cement clink-
ers. The materials are produced at lower
temperatures,
Estimated effect of the initiative
146,000
Can be implemented:
2030
tonnes CO
2
per year
so that the total CO
2
footprint is reduced by 30%.
The new cement type is covered by the European
cement standard, but it has not yet been approved
by Danish concrete standards or road regulations.
4
Climate-friendly asphalt
Climate-friendly asphalt (KVS) reduces the rolling
friction of the road and hence reduces the CO
2
emission from the road traffic due to savings of the
quantity of fuel.
It is suggested to use climate-friendly asphalt (KVS) in
both the national road network and the municipal
‘high-class’ roads which can be done without relaxing
traffic security or the durability of the surfacing.
On the part of the politicians, there is a need for
acceptance of an increased budget for construction of
roads by the use of climate-friendly asphalt. By con-
trast, already from day no. 1, savings are obtained in
the consumption of fuel and the CO
2
emissions.
Estimated effect of the initiative
57,000
tonnes CO
2
per year
Can be implemented:
2030
KVS also has a longer expected useful life than standard
asphalt, which in the long term will lead to further CO
2
savings and savings for maintaining and replacing as-
phalt.
After 2030, the savings potential is expected to be
even larger.
5
Digital solutions
More technologies that can contribute to a lower CO
2
footprint will gain ground within the next three to
five years, and can constitute 30-40% of the produc-
tion before 2030.
This applies to i.a.
robots
and
Additive Manufacturing,
which can build items layer by layer. In 2030, efficient
use of robots and Additive Manufacturing can poten-
tially reduce the material consumption by about 30
%, reduce waste from 8% to 2% and reduce transporta-
tion by more than 40%. There is also potential in
digi-
tal twins,
virtual mirroring of physical assets that
Estimated effect of the initiative
50,000
tonnes CO
2
per year
Can be implemented:
2030
collect data to optimise use and operation. Cases from
the construction industry and off-shore indicate that
digital twins can save 5% of the costs of construction
and the consumption of materials and 10% of energy and
resource consumption in operations.
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Other initiatives for CO
2
reduction in the civil engineering sector
1. Use less cement in concrete for construction
work
2. Use new types of cement with fewer cement
clinkers
3. Use electrically-powered machinery in the con-
crete industry
4. Use climate-friendly asphalt
5.
Production of ‘green’ asphalt and cold-mix
as-
phalt
6. Longer useful lives of asphalt as a result of
less digging and better restorations
7. Other selection of materials and types (steel,
glass fibre, wood)
8. Change of norms and calculation models with
focus on the climate
9. Design optimisation, reduction of quantities
10. Fossil and emission-free construction machines
in 2030, strategic replacement of the produc-
tion equipment
11. Alternative propellants, fuel
12.
“Sharing economy perspective” and “Full use
of the capacity of machines: weighing and
height /yaw break system”
13. Optimised internal logistics and freight
14. Robots, Additive Manufacturing and digital
twins
15. Efficient machines and machine control
16. Climate proofing, avoidance of risks
17. Transition to electric vehicles on the roads
7.
10. Approval in standards and road regulations of
new types of cement
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Participants in the five work-
ing groups
Implementation of energy efficiency measures in
existing buildings
Chairman: Senior Vice President Henrik Frank Nielsen, Rock-
wool
Research Manager Søren Aggerholm, SBi / AAU
Vice Chairman Niels Braaby, Blik & Rør
Senior Adviser Søren Dyck-Madsen, Concito
Lene Espersen, Managing Director, Danske Arkitektvirksomhe-
der
Manager Peter Grønlund, DOVISTA A/S
Master-carpenter Peter Holm, Holm Tømrer- og Snedkerfirma
Partner Niels Jakubiak, Krydsrum arkitekter
Senior Advisor Public Affairs, Susanne Kuehn, Rockwool
Energy Planner Marie-Louise Lemgart, Høje Taastrup
Municipality
Manager Henrik Lindved Bang, Bygherreforeningen (Danish
Association of Construction Clients)
Chief Economist Solveig Råberg Tingey, BL
Managing Director Henrik Mielke, Enemærke & Petersen
Group Competence Manager of Energy Design & Climate
Steffen E. Maagaard, MOE
Expertise Manager of indoor climate, energy and sustaina-
bility Peter Noye, NIRAS
Manager of Property Financing, Peter Jayaswal, Finans Dan-
mark
Secretariat: Dansk Industri (Confederation of Danish Industry)
Design and the CO
2
content of materials in buildings
Chairman: VP Global Stakeholder Communications & Sustaina-
bility Ingrid Reumert, VELUX A/S
Sustainability Manager Anna-Mette Monnelly, NCC Danmark
Partner, Architect MAA, Ph.D. Jan Schipull Kauschen,
Vandkunsten Architects
Managing Director Jesper Knudsen, ELCON
Group Competency Manager | Sustainability Karoline Geneser,
MOE A/S
Technical Manager,
Lau Raffnsøe, Green Building Council Denmark
Building and Development Manager Lone Zeeberg Nielsen, fsb
Morten Chrone, Group COO, HusCompagniet A/S
Managing Ddirector Peter Thorning, Fiberline A/S
Senior Political Advisor Kurt Emil Eriksen, Velux A/S
Director Global Public Affairs, Pia Désirée Loft, Velux A/S
Secretarial Assistance: Dansk Industri (Confederation of Danish Industry)
CO
2
reduction at the building site
Chairman: Ib Enevoldsen, Managing Director, Rambøll Danmark A/S
(FRI)
Project Manager Abildgaard, City of Copenhagen
Senior Rresearcher Harpa Birgisdóttir, SBI
Political-Financial Consultant Sidse Buch, BAT-Kartellet
Managing Director Henrik Garver, FRI
Managing Director Mette Glavind, the Danish Technological Institute
Manager of Public Affairs Klaus Birk, Saint-Gobain
Denmark A/S
Plant and Logistics Manager Torben Pedersen, Per Aarsleff A/S
Machine Aadministrator Bo Mikkelsen, Per Aarsleff A/S
Managing Director Johnny Hey, Bravida
Managing Director Christian B. Lund, Sanistål
Managing Director Mogens Nielsen, Saint-Gobain
Associate Partner Michael Schytt Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Manager Niels Techen, Helmer Christiansen
Section Manager Jens Thamdrup, NCC
Secretariat: FRI
CO
2
reduction from operation of buildings
Chairman: Managing director, Peter Kaas Hammer, Kemp & Lau-
ritzen
Development Manager Lars Andersen, NCC
Vice President, Application and Technology Atli Benonys-
son, Danfoss Heating
Managing Director Mogens Brusgaard, Wexøe
Managing Director Jens Frost Mikkelsen, Intego
Department Manager, HWS, Ventilation & CTS Lars Hede-
gaard Jepsen, Rambøll
Managing Director Brian Ludvigsen, Wicotec Kirkebjerg
Technical Consultant Martin Mortensen, Dansk Elforbund
Manager of Properties Marius Møller, Pension Danmark
Vice Manager Signe Primdal Lyndrup, Bygningsstyrelsen (The
Danish Building and Property Agency)
Owner and Managing Director Michael Søgaard Rasmus-
sen, Spangenberg & Madsen
Project Manager and Editor of white paper on operation
of buildings, Graves Simonsen, Bygherreforeningen
Partner and Architect Søren Riis Dietz, BJERG arkitektur
Unit Manager Heine Knudsen, Region Hovedstaden (Region H)
Secretariat: TEKNIQ Arbejdsgiverne
CO
2
reduction in the civil engineering sector
Michael S. Larsen, Managing Director, CG Jensen A/S (chairman)
Head of Department Anders Høgdal Larsen, Rambøll Dan-
mark A/S
Marketing Manager Anne Cecilie Lysbo, GSV Materielud-
lejning A/S
Industry Manager Dorthe Mathiesen, Dansk Byggeri/Dansk
Beton
Construction Manager Erik Stoklund Larsen, the Danish Road Directorate
Center Manager Henriette Hall-Andersen, Center for
Anlæg og Byfornyelse, City of Copenhagen
CEO and Partner Niels W. Falk, HD Lab
Market Manager Poul-Erik Olsen, Barslund A/S
Secretarial Assistance: Dansk Byggeri
Editors: Michael H. Nielsen, Torben Liborius,
Andreas Weidinger and Henrik Teglgaard Lund,
Dansk Byggeri (the Danish Construction Association). Revised on 17 March
2020
Graphic design and text editing: Viegand Maagøe A/S
Print: Jørn Thomsen Elbo A/S
Photos: iStock, Colourbox, Shutterstock and the parties behind the cli-
mate partnership of the construction industry
Translation and lay-out of the English version of the report
have been conducted by BAT-Kartellet
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40%
of Denmark’s energy con-
sumption is used in build-
ings
35%
of all waste stems from the con-
struction industry
20%
of Denmark’s CO
2
emission
stems from the energy con-
sumption in our buildings
10%
of Denmark’s CO
2
emission
stems from the building and
construction process and
the production of building
materials
The construction industry