The transformation to climate neutrality in the building sector is of the utmost urgency. After all, the construction industry is responsible for around 38 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and, at around 40 per cent by mass, accounts for a significant proportion of primary resource consumption in Germany. In addition, the sector is responsible for a considerable proportion of the waste generated, particularly through construction and demolition measures. With innovative solutions and technologies for circular construction products and processes, interactive exhibits and exciting specialist presentations, the Fraunhofer-Allianz Bau will provide the industry with important impetus for sustainable construction at the Circular Valley Convention and promote dialogue between experts and interested parties.
Political framework
With initiatives and directives, such as the Green Deal and the Energy Performance of Building Directive, the European Union has created a clear framework to pave the way towards climate neutrality. In the Federal Climate Action Act, the German government has committed to drastically reducing carbon emissions in the building sector in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2045. Despite these measures, current studies show that the sectoral climate targets in Germany have not been met. The UN Emissions Gap Report 2023 and others show that the construction industry is falling short of its targets.
Grey energy and energy efficiency
The discussion nowadays in the building sector often focuses on the topic of energy efficiency. Heat generation is responsible for around 90% of CO2 emissions in the operation of households, with the majority coming from the combustion of fossil fuels such as oil and gas. Energy-efficient renovations, the use of renewable energies and the reduction of land use are key measures for reducing CO2 emissions. However, energy-efficient construction often leads to an increased amount of material used in terms of so called grey energy, which is generated during the production and transportation of building materials.
Material availability and recycling
With a primary raw material input of around 2.5 billion tons in Germany and an annual waste volume in the construction industry of around 229 million tons, closing the loop in the construction industry is a major challenge. While the construction industry claims a recycling rate of around 90%, the majority of these recycling processes can be claimed as downcycling streams. This means that the materials are converted into lower-quality products instead of being reused in their original quality. New developments from the Fraunhofer-Allianz Bau show how innovative approaches to material separation and processing can improve the quality of R-materials.
Pollutants and health
Another obstacle to the establishment of a circular economy in the construction industry is pollutants in building materials, such as wood preservatives, which are found in many older buildings. The removal of these pollutants often requires resource-intensive processes. The Fraunhofer researchers demonstrate how the treatment of contaminated surfaces with special adsorber materials offers promising prospects for a sustainable solution.
Conclusion
The transformation to climate neutrality in the building sector is a complex task that requires innovative solutions. Clear guidelines and new technologies are needed to significantly reduce the industry’s ecological footprint. The key lies in resource-conserving construction methods, the increase of the recycling rate and the development of new methods for the pollutant-free recovery of materials.
With its CIRCONOMY®-Hub ‘Material cycles in the construction sector’, our partner and exhibitor Fraunhofer-Allianz Bau opens up an integrative approach for a systemic and technological solution finding in the innovation network and shows innovative solutions at the CVC.
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