Preserve buildings - and save both CO2 and money

The climate impact of construction corresponds to about 10% of Denmark's total consumption-based CO2E emissions, despite the fact that energy consumption for the operation of new buildings has decreased significantly over the past 50 years — from about 350 kWh/m² per year to about 40 kWh/m² per year. This development has shifted the focus from operating energy to that of building materials embedded energy consumption and environmental impact, opening up new opportunities to promote sustainability in the construction industry.

One study estimates that if embedded environmental impacts can be reduced by just 20% for newly built homes, offices and cultural buildings, it would deliver annual savings of between 1.6 and 1.9 TWh and reduce emissions by 0.3 to 0.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. It is a potentially huge step forward in the green transition.

What is embedded CO2?

Embedded CO2 refers to the amount of greenhouse gases emitted during the production, transportation and installation of building materials, as well as in the process of demolition and disposal. Unlike the energy and CO2 used to operate a building, which can be continuously optimized, embedded CO2 is a “pre-paid” discharge.

Therefore, the reuse, recycling and preservation of existing building stock is key to extending the life of materials and maximizing the utilization of the CO2 that has already been emitted.

LCA: Life Cycle Assessment as a Decision Tool

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method of evaluating the overall environmental impact of a building throughout its life cycle. It includes everything from raw material extraction and production to operation, maintenance and final disposal. LCA calculations clearly show that conservation and renovation are often more climate-friendly than demolition and new construction. This is because a large proportion of emissions -- known as upstream emissions -- occur at the start of a building's lifetime.

By conserving building mass, we expose these upstream emissions and help reduce overall CO2 emissions over time.

How proprty.ai Supports Sustainable Property Management

Sustainable management of the building stock requires an overview and data. proprty.ai is a platform that helps property owners and administrators make informed decisions based on objective insights. With proprty.ai you can:

1. Plan long-term maintenance: Optimize maintenance plans with a focus on the environment and economy. For example, unplanned emergency repairs can be reduced by prioritizing preventive maintenance.

2. Get energy data on your property: View energy labelling and other energy data directly in our app, giving you better insight into building performance and possible areas of optimisation.

3. Focus on Embedded CO2: A new innovation we are working on in 2025 is the ability to measure buildings' embedded CO2. It will provide our users with a unique opportunity to take responsibility for the environmental impacts of their properties, both historically and going forward.

Why conservation and renovation are the future

When we choose to conserve rather than tear down, we are harnessing the CO2 that has already been “paid for” while creating a more sustainable construction industry. Thinking in holistic and life-cycle assessments is essential to achieving our climate goals and ensuring the responsible use of our resources.

With proprty.ai in the back, you will be a reliable partner in optimizing the maintenance of your real estate portfolio and strengthening its sustainability.

Sources

1. Realdania (2024). Renovation is best for the climate: Climate data for renovation. Prepared by Arkitema, COWI, BUILD - Aalborg University and the Council for Sustainable Construction.

1. Birgisdóttir, H., & Madsen, S.S. (2017). Embedded energy and environmental impacts of buildings. SBi 2017:08.

1. Green Transition Council. Climate impact of construction in Denmark. Supported by Realdania and the Landowners Investment Fund. ISBN: 978-87-93630-24-6.

1. Wied, A.S., & Madsen, K. (2023). Analysis of CO2 emissions for different types of urban development. Prepared by Viegand Maagøe for CONCITO and Region Hovedstaden.