When it comes to construction, it's common to calculate how much CO2 is issued, as in the case of wood, where its growth and transport are taken into account. But there is a problem if the felling of trees is not responsible and harms the environment. In addition, transport not only emits CO2, but also other pollutants, and chemicals such as varnishes can damage soils and waters.
Construction has a great impact on the environment and methods such as Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to understand it better. Companies are starting to include these calculations in their product specifications through Environmental Product Declarations (DAP), although sometimes they are not complete.
In this article, we'll explore the carbon footprint and ACV in more detail to help calculate more accurately the environmental impact of construction.
The purpose of the carbon footprint is to measure the sum of greenhouse gas emissions, both direct and indirect, from individuals, organizations, events or products. It is quantified in “tons of CO2 equivalent” and is applicable to any productive activity.
On the other hand, the ecological footprint goes further when considering the entire life cycle of an activity, an approach that is becoming increasingly systematic. It evaluates how habits and customs impact the environment, allowing them to be measured to determine the sustainability of an activity.
Specifically, in the context of housing, the ecological footprint reflects the area of land or ecologically productive water (such as crops, forests or aquatic ecosystems) needed. Ideally, it also considers the volume of air required to generate resources and absorb waste generated during the construction and useful life of the building.
To this day, the methodology and calculation of the ecological footprint in the field of construction are not yet fully developed or officially regulated. Therefore, it is more common to calculate the carbon footprint of a home and then incorporate elements related to the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).
For example, it is common to find tools that add the carbon footprint of the machinery used during construction, as well as the architect's trips for visits to the construction site.
Finally, we will mention environmental calculation programs who apply the databases and do the calculation:
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