1. Start
  2. About IVL
  3. Research and Development
  4. The societal benefits of research
  5. The construction sector's actions for the climate.
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The construction sector's actions for the climate

More than half of the world's population lives in cities. By 2050, the proportion of city residents is estimated to have grown to 70 percent. The growing urban areas place new demands on sustainable construction and community planning with regard to economic, ecological and social responsibility. The construction sector has a great responsibility and on January 1st 2022, there will be legal requirements with climate declarations for all new construction in Sweden. The purpose is to reduce impact on the climate from the construction phase. in In close collaboration with the industry, IVL has developed tools and support for calculations and climate declarations.

IVL's participation for the sustainable goals 11, 12 and 13

In the work to achieve the UN sustainable development goals in the construction sector, IVL has developed tools and methods for the industry to simplify the reduction of climate impact and climate declaration. The goal is to:

  • Constitute a hub of knowledge regarding climate impact /greenhouse gas emissions from construction.
  • Provide tools and support for the construction sector to reduce its climate impact, such as calculation tools, instructions for calculations and support for procurement.
  • Contribute to reduced climate impact from the construction sector.

The development of actions for the climate, in the construction sector

  • In 2017, IVL developed the Construction sector's environmental calculation tool (Byggsektorns miljöberäkningsverktyg, BM) on behalf of Energimyndigheten (the Swedish Energy Agency). All development took place in collaboration with the industry.
  • In 2019, the project Climate Requirements (Klimatkrav) was implemented at a reasonable cost in collaboration with Public housing Sweden (Sveriges Allmänytta) and Kommuninvest. The project produced instructions for calculations and a guide for procurement.
  • In 2021, the tool BM 2.0 was updated in preparation for meeting legal requirements of the future.
  • On 1 January 2022, legal requirements for climate declarations for new construction entered into force.
  • In 2022, IVL will offer the construction sector's resource hub with a web service for quality-documented product-specific climate data (EPD) and an open resource register.
  • In 2022, the Climate Requirements project will be completed at a reasonable cost ROT, renovation, rebuilding and extension. Then IVL will supplement calculation instructions and procurement instructions for renovation, rebuilding and extensions.

Across the entire timeline, we have completed several research projects and many studies to develop BM.

Results of IVL's operation

Thanks to close collaboration with the industry, educating and continuous development, the work has led to broad implementation of:

  • Construction sector's environmental calculation tool, BM
  • Instructions for LCA calculation of construction projects
  • Guidance when procuring construction projects

The implementation leads to a greater visibility of the climate impact from construction and in the long run reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is to involve the entire industry and together generate a boost of knowledge. Therefore, IVL continues to offer education and support for the use of BM.

Who can benefit from the results and tools?

The tools and guidance are aimed at the following:

  • Developer and client
  • Construction contractor
  • Consultant, architect and designer
  • Authorities, banks and municipalities

The benefits of extended actions for the climate are broad and range from benefits in the earlier planning stages, financing and requirements to completion of goals, follow-up and supervision.

What is the next step?

IVL continues its work to support the implementation of new ways of working and the use of tools. This is done by:

  • Managing, developing and updating guidance as well as providing instructions for procurement and climate calculations.
  • Developing BM to include the entire life cycle (in line with, among other things, the EU taxonomy).
  • Implementation takes place in close collaboration with the industry.

Contributes to the UN Global Goals

  • 11. Sustainable cities and communities
  • 12. Responsible consumtion and production
  • 13. Climate action