If we use more wood from sustainable forestry when we build, we reduce the climate impact of construction. The first analyses already show this. For example, the latest research report from BUILD shows that building single-family houses with wood instead of conventional construction can reduce CO2 emissions from construction by 800,000 tonnes per year by 2030.

This is due in part to the carbon storage in wood that contributes to a climate gain over the building's lifetime compared to many other building materials.

These promising results on wood construction will now be examined with a much larger data base. With knowledge from 40 wood buildings and two new PhD projects, the researchers will, among other things, develop a completely new calculation model for the potential of wood construction in the green transition. This is being done in conjunction with industry and with financial support from VILLUM FONDEN and Realdania.

The research project will also point to concrete solutions that can influence construction in a more climate-friendly direction; this is relevant to a large number of construction industry players.

The calculation model

The new calculation model will investigate different solutions for using wood in different building types and calculate their climate impact. The calculation model also includes the time perspective on when carbon storage in the wood occurs as this is crucial knowledge for whether we can achieve the necessary reductions of greenhouse gases in the near future.

In addition, the calculation model looks at the environmental effects that derive from making major changes in the choice of construction materials.

Improving building life cycle assessments

LCAbyg is the Danish national tool for calculating the resource and environmental footprint of buildings. the creators of the toll is the same research group, which is about to develop a calculation model for the potential of wood construction created the tool . And it has paid off.

- The construction industry is very good at performing life cycle assessments of buildings with the national LCAbyg tool. The introduction of the voluntary Sustainability Class had made it easier for the industry to work on reducing its climate footprint. The new research project will further qualify the tool as the results of the calculation model will be part of the ongoing development of LCAbyg. We are constantly working to integrate the best and safest calculation basis, says Harpa Birgisdottir.

About the research project 

VILLUM FONDEN has supported the project with DKK 6.25 million to establish a new calculation model and train new talented PhD researchers.

Realdania has supported the project with DKK 1.5 million to gather knowledge across 40 practical cases from CF Møller, Arkitema, Vandkunsten and Lendager Group.