Limit values for embodied emissions and life cycle emissions of buildings

The construction sector is crucial to achieving climate targets. Limit values for embodied emissions or life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of buildings can be one way of linking climate and the circular economy. The basic idea is to set emission targets per square meter of a building that become more stringent over time. This creates an incentive for circular economy measures, for example by extending the lifespan of buildings, reusing building components, using fewer or low-emission materials and recycling them at the end. Requirements on the performance of materials are part of the revised Construction Product Regulation CPR. 

The revised Energy Performance of Building Directive EPBD addresses limit values over the whole life-cycle of buildings: i.e. operational emissions, e.g. heating, as well as embodied emissions, e.g. materials. Calculation and disclosure of life-cycle emissions in energy performance declarations will become mandatory for larger and government buildings by 2028 and all buildings by 2030. Furthermore, EU Member States will have to introduce roadmaps until 2027 for the introduction of limit values for life-cycle-emissions from 2030 onwards.  (https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_1965). The Building Performance Institute Europe BPIE recommends to complement limit values for life-cycle emissions with values for both operational and embodied emissions. By this, it can be ensured that none of the two can be ignored completely (https://www.bpie.eu/publication/regulierung-der-lebenszyklus-thg-emissionen-von-gebauden/, in German).  

Switzerland: Cantons are mandated by national law to set limits for the embodied energy (in practice translated into embodied greenhouse gas emissions) of new buildings and thus create incentives for environmentally friendly and circular construction materials and methods (Art. 45 para. 3 let. e Energy Act). The national legislation does neither entail a timeline for implementation nor target values for Cantons. However, the Federal Council (government) has the competence to introduce complementary or subsidiary regulations in this area (Art. 35j Environmental Protection Act). (https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/fga/2024/682/de (in German, French and Italian)