The Nordic countries are among the first in the world pursuing to set normative limits for the emission of buildings. With the work package on Emission-Free Construction Sites, we are going into depth with one of the modules in the life cycle of a building - the construction phase.

Until now, the main focus has been on emissions from production of building materials and the operational phase of buildings. This is changing as recent studies show that construction phase emissions are a substantial part of the whole life cycle emissions.

In buildings where emissions from the operational phase have been minimised, construction process emission may be up to 15% of the whole life cycle emissions. Here, the main contributors of emissions are transportation, construction machinery and energy use for heating and drying. Waste and lost material also contribute to increased emissions and must be taken into account in the construction phase.

Currently, none of the Nordic countries has set normative criteria for emission-free construction sites, and the Nordics thus have a unique opportunity to harmonise regulations and guidelines.

To create support, visibility and a solid foundation for an increased focus on low carbon construction including emission-free construction sites, a common Nordic declaration has been formulated and steps will be taken to ensure its endorsement and acceptance by the Nordic construction industry.