In the opinion of Rakennusteollisuus RT, the method for assessing the carbon footprint of buildings according to the draft guidelines of the Ministry of the Environment needs to be further developed in order for it to be suitable for use in the regulatory guidance of construction. In the proposed form, it could have a very harmful effect on the properties of buildings without achieving even a percent reduction in Finland's greenhouse gas emissions.
In the future, the greenhouse gas emissions of buildings are to be controlled by legislation, either with the help of emission ceilings or by rewarding a smaller carbon footprint. Meeting the target limits will be monitored with the carbon footprint evaluation method, which was announced at the turn of the year.
The procedure proposed now does not take into account other important factors related to the building's life cycle quality or durability, but only focuses on the carbon footprint, and even then only to a limited extent and in an extremely simplified manner. It would make buildings whose quality exceeds the minimum requirements of the building regulations unattractive, especially for two reasons.
In the draft, a standardized service life of 50–75 years is presented for buildings, which is quite short. It would guide the calculation of the service life to the dimension just given, because a large part of the factors affecting the length of the life cycle of buildings increase the carbon emissions of the materials, and their benefits only become apparent at the end of a long service life. Such factors include, for example, facade solutions that are more resistant to weathering or the use of stainless steel in reinforcement.
In the procedure according to the draft, all solutions that meet the construction regulations are considered functionally equivalent and therefore of equal value. A control that looks at carbon emissions alone would encourage the construction of buildings that precisely meet the minimum requirements, because a large part of the improvements are achieved by increasing the amount of materials and thus emissions. For example, improving structural safety, frame flexibility or sound insulation would become more difficult due to the regulation.
One of the key goals of construction management is the promotion of a circular economy, which would also not be realized with the approach presented in the draft. The net benefits resulting from the use of reusable building components or recyclable materials are reported in the calculation as separate additional information, which is not deducted from the carbon footprint of the building's life cycle. This would not encourage the search for solutions for reuse and recycling of materials.
In order for the evaluation method prepared by the Ministry of the Environment to have positive control effects, Rakennusteollisuus RT considers it necessary to thoroughly further develop the method. The calculation should at least be changed so that the building's standardized service life requirement is the minimum of the calculation and it would be possible to make the calculation with the service life requirement set by the customer. The service life should also be credibly authenticated. As part of the procedure, a functional method must be created that can take into account the various functional characteristics of the structures under consideration.
In addition, the review should be changed in such a way that it contributes to increasing the recycling rate of construction products and, if possible, raising the recycling rate. In its statement, the construction industry RT has also highlighted several other areas for development of the method.
The construction industry also reminds that, in addition to the carbon footprint, all other components of sustainable construction must also be taken into account, such as long-term sustainability, economy and health.
See also
- RT's statement on the draft method for evaluating the carbon footprint of buildings
More information
- Pekka Vuorinen, director of environment and energy, tel. 050 469 2021
- Merja Vuoripuro, director of communications, tel. 040 587 2642
firstname.surname@rakennusteollisuus.fi