Analysis of the GHG emission reduction potential on construction sites

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Despite an estimated saving potential of 20-50% of GHG emissions, construction sites reduction potential has hardly been explored so far. This project targets to collect empirical results on the reduction potential of GHG emissions through comprehensive analysis of construction site emissions based on literature studies, evaluation of existing know-how and data of experts. Further, it aims to develop a concept to monitor a construction site to validate the analysis and derive effective mitigation actions. The projectAlthough the climate footprint due to the use phase of a building or infrastructure has been well researched and many solutions developed, its construction phase has not been investigated yet. However, this phase has an important impact on the climate. The operation of fossil-fuel-powered construction machinery, the use of fossil-fuel-powered construction-related vehicles and equipment, or the exploitation of high-impact material such as concrete are a some of the aspects that need to be address in order to reduce the GHG emissions on a construction site and during the construction phase.That is why, together with the Institute WERZ (Wissen, Energie und Rohstoffe Zug) of the OST Ostschweizer Fachhochschule, Landis Bau intends to investigate and evaluate its GHG emissions on a large construction site.Landis Bau is a construction company operating in the domains of building and underground construction, conversion, facades, building protection, drilling in the canton Zug. This project targets the compilation of emission-relevant topics on a construction site: construction machinery, construction containers, lighting and safety of construction sites, shell heating, delivery, waste/material, and resource aspects. The analysis will be completed with a literature-based hotspot analysis for the relevant topics and reinforced by specialists’ interviews. The subsequent evaluation and assessment will serve as a basis to develop a monitoring concept of a large construction site, itself focusing on the development of low-emission construction sites. With their joined know-how, Landis Bau and the Institute WERZ target to achieve a scalable result, suitable for all kind and size of constructions sites. Through the assessment and analysis of use and handling of construction machines, vehicles and material, this project idea affects both energy savings and GHG-emission reduction.Work packagesWP1 - Literature researchWP2 - Interviews with relevant specialists at Landis BauGoals:- Understanding the operation profiles of construction machinery and vehicles to target emissions hot spots- Acquisition conceptional knowledge of the spatial planning and organisation of a construction siteSpecifications on first research questions:- Which machines is it pertinent to electrified?- What is the GHG emission reduction potential of infrared heaters?- What is the reasonable time and capacity investments of staff in training projects?WP3 - Collection and analysis of data from Landis BauSpecifications on targeted data:- Fuel consumption- Power consumption- Quantity of construction material used (per type)- Quantity of waste transportedWP4 - Evaluation and assessmentWP5 - ReportingHow can the Energy Lab help you?​Landis Bau is willing to fund a part of the study, however, in the early high-risk phase of the study, where the outcomes and real potential cannot yet be foreseen, the funding by EnergyLab is essential to start. With positive results, further and more detailed investigations (e.g. by monitoring specific parts of a construction site and the identification of specific mitigation measures) will be possible.

Project Idea Metadata

• Project Idea Name: Analysis of the GHG emission reduction potential on construction sites
• Date: 3/15/2022 5:55:59 PM
• Administrators:
  • Laure Hoeppli

Project Idea Description

The project

Although the climate footprint due to the use phase of a building or infrastructure has been well researched and many solutions developed, its construction phase has not been investigated yet. However, this phase has an important impact on the climate. The operation of fossil-fuel-powered construction machinery, the use of fossil-fuel-powered construction-related vehicles and equipment, or the exploitation of high-impact material such as concrete are a some of the aspects that need to be address in order to reduce the GHG emissions on a construction site and during the construction phase.

That is why, together with the Institute WERZ (Wissen, Energie und Rohstoffe Zug) of the OST Ostschweizer Fachhochschule, Landis Bau intends to investigate and evaluate its GHG emissions on a large construction site.

Landis Bau is a construction company operating in the domains of building and underground construction, conversion, facades, building protection, drilling in the canton Zug. This project targets the compilation of emission-relevant topics on a construction site: construction machinery, construction containers, lighting and safety of construction sites, shell heating, delivery, waste/material, and resource aspects. The analysis will be completed with a literature-based hotspot analysis for the relevant topics and reinforced by specialists’ interviews. The subsequent evaluation and assessment will serve as a basis to develop a monitoring concept of a large construction site, itself focusing on the development of low-emission construction sites. With their joined know-how, Landis Bau and the Institute WERZ target to achieve a scalable result, suitable for all kind and size of constructions sites. Through the assessment and analysis of use and handling of construction machines, vehicles and material, this project idea affects both energy savings and GHG-emission reduction.

Work packages

WP1 - Literature research

WP2 - Interviews with relevant specialists at Landis Bau

Goals:

- Understanding the operation profiles of construction machinery and vehicles to target emissions hot spots

- Acquisition conceptional knowledge of the spatial planning and organisation of a construction site

Specifications on first research questions:

- Which machines is it pertinent to electrified?

- What is the GHG emission reduction potential of infrared heaters?

- What is the reasonable time and capacity investments of staff in training projects?

WP3 - Collection and analysis of data from Landis Bau

Specifications on targeted data:

- Fuel consumption

- Power consumption

- Quantity of construction material used (per type)

- Quantity of waste transported

WP4 - Evaluation and assessment

WP5 - Reporting

How can the Energy Lab help you?​

Landis Bau is willing to fund a part of the study, however, in the early high-risk phase of the study, where the outcomes and real potential cannot yet be foreseen, the funding by EnergyLab is essential to start. With positive results, further and more detailed investigations (e.g. by monitoring specific parts of a construction site and the identification of specific mitigation measures) will be possible.

Despite an estimated saving potential of 20-50% of GHG emissions, construction sites reduction potential has hardly been explored so far. This project targets to collect empirical results on the reduction potential of GHG emissions through comprehensive analysis of construction site emissions based on literature studies, evaluation of existing know-how and data of experts. Further, it aims to develop a concept to monitor a construction site to validate the analysis and derive effective mitigation actions.