Norway – where materials matter
Oslo, the capital of Norway, has big climate action ambitions. Among initiatives to achieve them it is instigating regulations to cut carbon emissions associated with buildings under construction and during their operational life spans
CHEAP AND EASY
Reducing emissions from construction materials, so-called embodied carbon, through the selection of low carbon alternatives and greater recycling and reuse of materials, does not have to make buildings more expensive or projects more complicated
CONCRETE STEPS
The reuse of concrete from buildings that are to be demolished can significantly reduce embodied emissions in construction projects
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
Regulations and incentives are central to progress on reducing emissions from buildings, says a landmark report
When Mjøstårnet (the environmental tower), the world’s tallest timber building opened in March 2019 in Brumunddal, Norway, it was a reminder of how a small Nordic country is at the forefront of the fight to reduce carbon emissions embedded in construction materials. The 18-story mixed-use tower stands 85.4 metres tall and has significantly lower embodied carbon than if it was made of the concrete and steel usually used for a high-rise building. Mjøstårnet is primarily wood, though concrete slabs are used in the top few floors for stability. ...
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