SmartKalk LCA simplifies carbon emission calculations in construction

The net-zero year of 2050 looms large for the construction industry, which is racing against the clock to decarbonise. But the industry still has a lot of work to do and the job isn’t easy. In the EU today, construction accounts for 12 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. To encourage faster decarbonisation, authorities are setting more and stricter regulations on emissions and reporting.

“Companies, especially SMEs, lack the knowledge and resources to calculate their own emissions and produce complex reports. What they need is advanced, targeted software to do the work for them,” explains Kalleberg.

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SmartKalk LCA (life cycle assessment) is a digital solution that enables construction companies to calculate their carbon footprint quickly and easily. The solution is a new add-on module to SmartKalk, a powerful, user-friendly estimating tool for home builders, contractors and remodelers.

“The module calculates carbon footprint in the form of cost estimates. It gives construction companies complete control over CO₂ calculations at all levels so they can make decisions based not only on price but also on environment friendliness,” says Kalleberg.

The program is easy to use, even for those without experience. It interfaces with various databases and extracts Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) on building materials. An EPD contains information about a product’s footprint based on life cycle assessment methodology, enabling easy reporting and comparison between products.

The databases used include the Norwegian Building Material Database (NOBB), the global ECO Portal and ÖKOBAUDAT, among others.

SmartKalk LCA increases sustainability in the construction industry. If a product has no EDP, the program will suggest similar products that do. This is the first program in Norway to have this capability.

“Using a simple type of machine learning, the list of eco-friendly alternatives will constantly grow as more companies use the program. This will promote companies that have an EPD for their products. Products with a low carbon footprint are more likely to be chosen for projects,” says Kalleberg.

Moreover, SmartKalk LCA drastically reduces the time and cost involved in carbon footprint calculations and reporting. “Companies can now easily do this work themselves without any prior experience. In fact, they can save up to 90 per cent in costs compared to hiring a consultant,” he adds.

The construction industry is under enormous pressure to decarbonise. The EU recently set stricter environmental requirements in its Construction Products Regulation, and Norway’s regulation that commercial buildings must submit carbon footprint reports will likely extend to other types of buildings in the future.

“Our market is growing rapidly. Everyone wants to be the ‘best in class’ on sustainability, whether or not they are required by law to submit reports. A proven, low carbon footprint is good marketing strategy,” says Kalleberg.

Holte, the company behind SmartKalk LCA, is well established in Norway and has customers in Denmark. Finland and Sweden are potential export markets as well.

SmartKalk LCA was named a finalist in the Norwegian Construction Industry’s Innovation Award 2023.