Building Carbon Footprint: A New Mandatory Calculation That Changes Everything

The construction industry is entering a new era. Until now, we have focused on the energy efficiency of a building during its use (measured in E-values), but this is no longer enough. The new construction law that came into force at the beginning of 2025 brings with it a revolutionary requirement: the calculation of the carbon footprint of a building's life cycle. This means that instead of just the energy consumption during use, we must look at all the emissions that a building causes throughout its entire life cycle.

Life cycle assessment covers everything: the production of building materials, their transportation to the site, the construction itself, operation and maintenance, and finally the demolition of the building and the recycling of the materials. This is fundamentally changing the way we design and build. Material choices, such as the preference for wood over concrete, are becoming more important. The requirement is driving the entire industry towards low-carbon construction and more sustainable solutions, making builders and designers key players in the fight against climate change.

• The Construction Act, which will come into force at the beginning of 2025, will make carbon footprint calculation a mandatory part of the building permit process.
• The calculation examines emissions throughout the building's entire life cycle, from the manufacture of materials to demolition.
• The importance of material choices is emphasized: wood-based materials and circular economy products are strong.
• The builder can actively influence the end result by favoring wood construction, low-carbon concrete, and renewable insulation materials.
• Carbon footprint calculation is a tool that guides the entire construction industry towards climate goals.