Watch Low Carbon Clinics Webinar Recording and Report Launch

Practical Experience with Carbon Reduction Initiatives from Building Projects in the Nordic Countries

23january
Events Webinars Arkiv

This new report provides an overview of 11 clinics conducted across the Nordic countries and Estonia. These projects encompass a diverse array of building typologies and construction materials, and focuses on knowledge sharing of carbon reduction initiatives for building projects across the Nordic countries and Estonia.

Discussing Real-life Projects to Address Decarbonisation Solutions

The purpose of the Low-Carbon Clinics has been to facilitate discussions surrounding decarbonisation initiatives for building projects across the Nordic countries and Estonia. By focusing on real-life projects, the clinics aimed to address the actual challenges and potential solutions associated with the decarbonisation agenda. The clinics were offered at no cost and were conducted by local experts from each participating country. These experts were well-versed in local and national requirements and developments that impacted the projects. Given the complexity of these topics, discussions were conducted in the participants' native languages to ensure open and effective communication.

Figure of the General procedure for the clinics

General procedure for the clinics

During the clinics, local experts provided guidance on decarbonisation strategies and initiatives. The primary objective was to stimulate engaging discussions and inspire the participants to take actionable steps toward decarbonisation for their specific projects. Participation in the clinics was voluntary, and advice provided was free of charge, which placed the responsibility for implementing discussed initiatives on the participants.

The Low-Carbon Clinics were conducted by local experts from Sweco, EFLA, and LCA Support. The clinics were designed to address real-life challenges and potential solutions associated with the decarbonisation agenda. The new report “Low Carbon Clinics” shares the knowledge and learnings from the clinics.

Key Findings and Challenges

Here is an overview of the key findings and challenges identified in the report.

Key findings

  • Carbon limit values and continuous LCA monitoring: Emphasising climate budgets and LCA monitoring is crucial for driving carbon reductions.
  • Hotspot analysis and data for early insights: Identifying carbon reduction opportunities early through hotspot analysis and data insights is essential, requiring collaboration across the value chain.
  • Flexible use of buildings: Optimising building utilization helps prevent buildings from being empty, reducing the need for new construction and minimizing environmental impact.
  • Biobased materials and low-carbon solutions: Using biobased materials and low-carbon materials is a strategy for minimizing environmental impact in construction projects.

Key Challenges

  • Calculation methods and integration of LCA across phases: Variability in LCA methodologies in certification schemes and national regulations presents significant challenges. Standardised procedures are needed to credit actual benefits to the atmosphere. Integrating LCA across different design phases is also a significant challenge.
  • Material-related challenges: Low-carbon materials pose risks, especially concerning long-term performance. Sourcing materials that meet functional requirements and establishing systematic approaches for reusing materials are key challenges.
  • Location/geological preconditions: Location limitations and geological conditions, such as seismic activity, impact material choices and design. Weather conditions and specific material requirements in municipal plans also pose challenges.
  • Time and cost constraints: Balancing sustainability goals with time and cost constraints is challenging. The cost of low-emission measures and the time-consuming certification process impact project design and resource allocation.

Tools and Industry Knowledge

To assist professionals in implementing low-carbon practices effectively, the report includes a library of tools and industry knowledge. This library is structured according to the relevance of the building phase and provides a valuable resource for industry stakeholders.

Find the report “Low Carbon Clinics” here

Watch the recording of the webinar here.

Agenda 12.00 - 13.00 (UTC+1)

12.00 Welcome
Maria Tiainen, Finnish Ministry of Environment
12.05 Presentation of the overall project and key findings
Rikke Schack and Nicolaj Langkjær, SWECO DK
12.20 Low Carbon Clinic - Estonia
Anni Oviir, LCA Support
12.35 Low Carbon Clinic - Sweden
Anna Joelsson and Inga Sjöberg, SWECO SWE
12.50  Q&A
13.00 End of webinar