When decarbonizing the construction sector, governments should use an approach that takes into account the entire life cycle of a building – from construction to demolition.
This is the main recommendation made by experts from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in their new report Zero Carbon Buildings in Cities: A Life Cycle Approach.
A “white spot” in the decarbonization of buildings
The authors of this study believe that achieving global climate goals requires addressing the carbon emissions of buildings throughout their entire life cycle, which includes both operational and materialized carbon. They say that the second group of emissions is often overlooked and has been a “white spot” in climate policy until recently.
“The daily use of buildings results in significant operational emissions (e.g., from lighting, heating, and cooling), and efforts to reduce these emissions have intensified in recent decades, in part in response to climate change and, more recently, the energy and cost-of-living crises. However, these are not the only emissions that should be taken into account when calculating the total carbon footprint of buildings,” they say.
The researchers noted that the production and demolition of buildings are also significant sources of emissions. These emissions, commonly referred to as materialized carbon or materialized emissions, will account for about half of the total carbon footprint of new buildings by 2050 if no action is taken to reduce it, they said.
What the experts suggested
Based on a global study of 18 countries and cities, the researchers outlined in the report the best practices found, proven strategies, and practical ideas for policy makers at all levels.
“Filling a critical gap in sustainable building policy, this report provides countries and cities with the tools to accelerate the transition to zero-carbon buildings and build a more sustainable future,” it says.
The authors of the report have formulated 6 key recommendations for the decarbonization of buildings:
1. Adopt a full life cycle approach to shift the focus from carbon emissions associated with operation alone to energy efficiency and materialized carbon. The OECD insists that building decarbonization policies should take into account all aspects of construction – from planning new buildings, to carrying out renovations, to managing the demolition and reconstruction process.
2. Adopt a phased approach to implementing a lifelong carbon policy. Long-term roadmaps should set measurable goals and milestones. Experts suggest starting with relatively simple measures, such as mandatory climate impact reporting, which can serve as a testing ground for more complex measures.
“Dividing buildings into different types (e.g., residential, commercial) allows for individualized criteria that reflect different emission reduction potentials, as in France's RE2020 regulation and Sweden's phased lifetime carbon reduction strategy,” the report says.
The authors are confident that this phased approach balances ambition with practicality, stimulates innovation, and ensures progress in decarbonizing various building stocks.
3. Develop strategies for data collection. A national database will help inform decision-making, facilitate benchmarking, set clear emissions reduction targets, and track progress.
4. Deploy digital tools to reduce workload. The development of comprehensive databases and standardized assessment tools, such as the Dutch National Environmental Database, allows companies to accurately and efficiently assess carbon emissions throughout the entire life cycle, the report authors cited.
5. Strengthen vertical coordination to empower urban initiatives. The OECD believes that cities are uniquely positioned to lead ambitious initiatives that will contribute to significant emissions reductions due to their regulatory powers, proximity to stakeholders, and ability to act as innovation centers.
“For example, cities such as Tampere, Helsinki, and Vancouver have introduced stricter standards than national legislation and have implemented innovative practices,” the report says.
6. Strengthen horizontal cooperation and partnerships between the public, private and academic sectors. The researchers illustrated this recommendation with inter-municipal initiatives in Sweden and inter-ministerial initiatives in Japan, which promote knowledge sharing, policy alignment, and break down isolation to advance coordinated national roadmaps.
Recently, EcoPolitic wrote about the innovations proposed by the European Commission to accelerate the decarbonization of various EU industry sectors.
