As part of the low-carbon industry-specific roadmaps in accordance with the government program, Rakennusteollisuus RT announced the results of its own work at the beginning of June. The road map prepared now aims at the lowest possible carbon emissions from construction activities and buildings during their use. The goal has been to identify the industry's emission sources, key measures to reduce emissions, obstacles to emission reductions, and operating models that enable low carbon. Construction industry RT's road map is complemented by Rakli's work done in parallel with it, the results of which will be published at the beginning of September.
Along with industry, the built environment is one of the most significant producers of CO2 emissions. The results of the road map show that emissions in the built environment and construction are being reduced by 66 percent by 2035. With the help of identified technological leaps, reductions of up to 80 percent could be reached at that time. By 2050, it would be possible to achieve almost carbon neutrality and reduce emissions by 95 percent.
In the built environment, no less than 76 percent of emissions are currently caused by energy consumption during the use of buildings. Reducing the energy consumption and emissions of existing buildings, for example by means of energy renovations and renewal of heating methods, has the greatest emission reduction potential. Releasing low-emission energy for other uses is at the same time a carbon handout to energy-intensive industries.
Regarding the construction phase, the technological development of construction materials such as cement and steel is of great importance. In infrastructure construction, significant reduction potential can be found especially in the regional utilization of earth and stone materials, which reduces the need for transport, and in the use of recycled and recycled materials. When planning the use of areas, it is essential to take into account the need for temporary storage of the masses to be used. Electrification and switching to biofuels promote the reduction of emissions in construction site operations.
As a follow-up to its roadmap, Rakennusteollisuus RT is launching a broad-based carbon neutrality dialogue with stakeholders in order to achieve significant emission reductions. Regarding the public sector, the state should develop the low-carbon regulation of the sector in such a way that the requirements are sustainably feasible. Municipalities should take into account in their land use solutions not only the emission effects of traffic arising from the placement of buildings and structures, but also the additional emission effects of construction related to buildability. In procurement, emphasis should be placed on low carbon in a material and technology neutral manner and as predictably as possible. The task of the industry is to find the means to achieve the goals.
Although the pressure to reduce emissions is great, emission reductions must be done in a controlled manner. Low-carbon sustainable construction requires consideration of all life cycle features and quality factors. Climate change is curbed by reducing emissions, but the changing weather conditions are already severely affecting the built environment as well.
The most impactful measures and their implementation are critical in terms of the ambitious goal of carbon neutrality. Even small measures matter. They are an example of responsible and market-driven operations, which cannot or need not always be measured by emissions. The goals of the road map are common to everyone.
Anna Laine
senior specialist
Gaia Consulting Oy
Tuomas Raivio
business manager
Gaia Consulting Oy
Pekka Vuorinen
environment and energy director
Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries (CFCI)
The text has been published Rakennuslehten On the Näkökulma column on 12.6.2020 November XNUMX.
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