Compared to the previous 2020 emission mapping of the construction industry, carbon dioxide emissions have decreased by 3,4 million tons.
The biggest factor in reducing carbon dioxide emissions is the low carbonization of district heating. Still, in the built environment, around 65 percent of emissions still come from energy consumption during use.
"Energy efficiency renovations and renewal of heating methods will continue to have the greatest emission reduction potential", Rakennusteollisuus RT's director of environment and energy Pekka Vuorinen says.
Smart systems in building technology are of great importance, as they produce a multiplying reduction potential. On the other hand, the requirements improve old buildings to the level of current regulations and may increase costs too much, in which case the projects will not be implemented.
"However, saving low-emission energy in the kira sector would be a carbon handout to other energy-intensive industries."
Cement and steel are the biggest emitters, but they are difficult to replace
The production of cement causes emissions of 0,9 million tons annually. As for steel, the amount is 4 million tons, of which, however, only a part is allocated to construction.
"Buildings and construction products correspond to a total of more than 2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. In terms of materials, significant investments should be directed to the largest emission sources in order to achieve a rapid reduction effect."
The determined action of the state is a prerequisite for the realization of emission reductions. Finland has all the conditions to promote a low-carbon construction industry, but the regulation should be material and technology neutral, and the requirements should be realistic and encouraging.
"For example, Norway already has emission requirements specific to construction sites, which has led to the rapid electrification of the machinery and the utilization of biofuels. The same could be done in Finland as well, but taking into account our own circumstances and possibilities."
Regulation could also promote the utilization of flexibility in building conversions and the reuse of demolition parts.
"Now, as a rule, everything that is dismantled ends up being crushed as recycled material or is used as energy. The circular economy could be promoted and emissions reduced in many ways, and the construction industry has the motivation to do so," Vuorinen sums up.
Text: Anna Kuronen
The article has been published on the rakennamme.fi website.