Exploring EPD Platforms: A Closer Look at ÖKOBAUDAT

Published on 19.06.2023
This knowledge was donated by:
German Sustainable Building Council - DGNB e.V.
Curated by Dr. Anna Braune

Are you looking to compare building components and understand their climate impact at the material and product level? Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) platforms, such as the ÖKOBAUDAT database, can provide valuable assistance. ÖKOBAUDAT, which is applicable to the German market, is maintained by the German Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development, and Building (BMWSB). It offers a unified data basis for the life cycle assessment (LCA) of buildings and includes more than 1,400 life cycle inventory datasets on building materials, construction, transport, energy, and disposal processes.

Comparison of Emission Data for Building Components

ÖKOBAUDAT supports data-driven planning by displaying CO2 emissions (Global Warming Potential in kg CO2 equivalents) for 360 building products and materials commonly used in new constructions and renovations. To ensure good comparability, in addition to the greenhouse gas intensities (GWP in kg CO2-eq.), the corresponding reference unit (kilograms (kg), cubic meters (m3), pieces (pcs), megajoules (MJ)) is provided. Emissions are categorized into life cycle phases: production (A1 – A5), use (B1 – B7), disposal (C1 – C4), and potential for reuse (D).

Tip

Additional support is available through various freely accessible tools that enable the calculation of life cycle assessments for entire buildings, such as Caala.

Background Knowledge

Climate-Neutral Building – Data-Driven Planning is Essential

To achieve climate-neutral building, it is necessary to account for embodied emissions, or "grey emissions." This requires thorough data-driven planning aimed at creating long-term sustainability qualities and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life cycle.

Buildings are becoming increasingly energy-efficient and can even operate as climate-positive. However, significant amounts of CO2 are emitted during the production, transport, and use of various building products. Choosing the right concepts and materials—starting from the early planning stages—can significantly impact the embodied emissions and the energy efficiency in the building's later use.

Caution

Funding programs and banks are increasingly demanding a life cycle-oriented planning approach with transparent reporting and good values in terms of greenhouse gas intensity. It is expected that in the coming years, compliance with greenhouse gas emission limits will become a basis for obtaining permits.

Conclusion

Using the ÖKOBAUDAT allows for an informed selection regarding the CO2 balance. For those operating on a European scale, the ESUCO database offers a similar platform with comprehensive environmental and sustainability data for building products and processes across Europe. Both databases facilitate sustainable development in the construction industry by providing essential data for informed decision-making.
By integrating platforms like ÖKOBAUDAT and ESUCO into the planning process, stakeholders can significantly influence the sustainability and environmental impact of their building projects.

Further information:

Ökobaudat
Official Website of the Sustainable Construction Information Portal
Life Cycle Assessment – a guide on using the LCA
This guide aims to promote the increased use of life cycle assessment (LCA) in the planning process by demonstrating the relevance and potential of this tool. It provides planners and builders with arguments for the earliest possible use of this method as an optimization tool during the planning and implementation phases, highlighting the achievable sustainability effects. Additionally, the reader is shown, through examples, how the results of the LCA can be communicated and used in the planning process as a means of supporting ecologically sounder decisions.
Toolbox "Klima­neutrales Bauen"
Information, recommendations, and tools for planning, building, and operating buildings and neighborhoods in a climate-neutral manner.
Level(s) eLearning
CAALA
CAALA supports the construction and real estate industry in the realization of climate-neutral buildings and the decarbonization of existing properties.

This knowledge was donated by:

German Sustainable Building Council - DGNB e.V.
Founded in 2007, the DGNB is now Europe's largest network for sustainable building with over 2,000 member organisations. The aim of the association is to promote sustainability in the construction and property industry and to anchor it in the consciousness of the general public. With the DGNB certification system, the independent non-profit organisation has developed a planning and optimisation tool for assessing sustainable buildings, interiors and districts that helps to increase real sustainability in construction projects. The DGNB system is based on a holistic understanding of sustainability that takes equal account of the environment, people and economic efficiency. In addition, around 8,000 people in 45 countries have already been qualified as experts in sustainable building via the DGNB Academy training and further education platform.
Please send contact enquiries to:
Mail: a.braune@dgnb.de
Phone: +49 711 722322-67