SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION – PART 2

BUILDING THE FUTURE WITHOUT DESTROYING THE PLANET: The carbon footprint challenge

In Switzerland, the construction sector is responsible for around 40% of greenhouse gas emissions. As the country aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, calculating the carbon footprint has become an essential tool. It guides design decisions from the very beginning and helps control the environmental impact throughout a building’s entire life cycle — from construction to demolition.

MEASURE TO MANAGE: THE KEY ROLE OF THE CARBON FOOTPRINT

The carbon footprint assesses CO₂ emissions at every stage of a project: raw material extraction, manufacturing, transport, construction, building operation, and end of life. It helps identify the most emissive stages — particularly the structural works involving concrete and steel — and allows comparisons between different design options to reduce the project’s overall footprint. Today, it is a strategic and economic cornerstone for responsible construction.

FROM MEASUREMENT TO ACTION: MAIN LEVERS FOR REDUCTION

Reducing carbon emissions relies on key design and technical decisions:

• Reducing built volumes: favor compact designs, avoid oversizing, and optimize usable space.
• Choosing sustainable materials: wood, raw earth, recycled concrete, bio-based resources.
• Renovation over demolition: promote reuse and efficient construction site management.
• Energy performance and efficiency: high insulation, low-consumption systems, renewable energy production.

AN INEVITABLE AND MEANINGFUL EVOLUTION

Integrating the carbon footprint into a project is no longer a constraint, but a new way of designing architecture in line with climate challenges. It’s a key component of modern construction, encouraging sustainable practices that support the ecological transition of the building industry.