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Going Circular - Circular Economy With in Construction Industry in the Kingdom of Denmark
Introduction to World’s Most Ambitious Climate Legislation, Minus 70 Percent C02 Reduction
The Danish Government on 2019-12-06 passed “Klimalov”, the most ambitious target for greenhouse gasses reduction in the world. Denmark will reduce them by 70 percent within 2030 compared to 1990s-emission as per Paris-agreement, with an intermediate goal reduction, passed on 2021-05-07, of 50-54 percent within 2025. It will be a challenge, but yes, I can.
In Denmark we are proud to be a pioneer country, and it will enforce our export of green energy solutions, as our wind energy history shows.
We have to abandon the traditional approach take, make, use, and dispose and move on to a more circular one
State of the Art – Danish Case
Increasing focus on building sector and its use of resources are already clear looking the Danish building regulations over time.
Source: SWECO DK – Sustainability Department
On top of that, Denmark is involved in a huge electrification development, due to wind energy availability and low prices; housing, industry, transportation, and rail infrastructure projects are raising all over the country.
Low price of green electricity and stricter requirements are the reasons, why the importance of the embodied carbon (CO2 emissions associated with the materials from extraction production) is increasing compared to the operational carbon (CO2 emissions associated with the operation of the building) in the construction and building sector.
We have to abandon the traditional approach take, make, use, and dispose and move on to a more circular one. Circular approach that furthermore will also answer to UN Sustainable Development Goals: 11th sustainable cities and communities, 12th responsible consumption and production and 13th climate action.
Source: SWECO DK – Sustainability Department
Here is, where the life cycle assessments are getting more and more relevant, think of Breeam certification in UK and DGNB and Svanemærk in Denmark, where Sweco DK is a leading actor.
Some Examples: Projects and Technology Circle House-project, world´s first circular public housing project
Source: SWECO DK – Building Division East/Jutland
Lejebo will execute world´s first circular housing project in Lisbjerg, near Aarhus (Jutland). The design will be performed by the winning team consisting of Torntoft & Mortensen, RUM og Sweco, and the construction will be finalized in spring 2023.
The project consists of two 5-storeys buildings, a 3-storeys house and 4 terraced houses of 2 and 3 storeys, - for a total of 5,467 m2.
The idea is to execute a scalable project, that will increase the circular knowledge in the Danish construction industry, thanks to the visionary ambitions of the client, Lejerbo. The buildings parts can be disassembled and reused. Used of concrete will be optimize, saving a lot of CO2-emissions.
“The answer to construction industry dilemma is reuse and recycle, and a flexible design that will allow the building to adapt to future uses and needs” as per Christian Corydon, chef for Building Division East at Sweco, own statement. More than 60 partners have been involved in all the value chains to ensure the project feasibility.
