Construction
Buildings account for a large part of the world's energy consumption and CO2 emissions — both during the construction phase and while we use them. By building more sustainably, we can reduce energy consumption and thus greenhouse gas emissions.
One of the biggest CO2 emitters is the building and construction sector, which today accounts for approximately 22% of Denmark's CO2 footprint. If we are to reduce CO2 emissions, focusing on construction is therefore crucial - and this is reflected in DTU's research.
Steel and concrete are very difficult to do without completely, but we need to use bio-based products to a greater extent. At the same time, there is a need for more buildings to be renovated, components recycled, and materials and waste from the construction sector recycled to reduce the consumption of materials.
In 2021, international cement production accounted for a total of 2.9 billion tonnes of CO2, which is more than 7% of total global CO2 emissions, according to calculations from the International Energy Agency (IEA). Developing new methods and more energy-efficient processes in construction is an area where more research is needed.
Energy consumption for the production and transportation of materials can be reduced through more and better coordination between different trades and suppliers. The solutions that are found must be scalable and used internationally so that they can contribute to reduce CO2 emissions from construction globally.
