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