Datenbasis zur Bewertung einer Nachhaltigen und Effizienten Holzverwendung im deutschen Bausektor

Background and Objective

As described in the National Bioeconomy Policy Strategy, the knowledge-based bioeconomy offers the opportunity to make an important contribution to solving the challenges of the 21st century. This requires, amongst others, an understanding of material and energy flows, as well as a linking of ecological and economic conditions. The consideration of systemic interrelationships is even the basic prerequisite for finding solutions to these challenges. For example, the material use of the renewable resource wood in the building sector can represent a great potential for creating the living space needed in the future, especially by modernising and adding storeys to the existing building stock. At the same time, the associated carbon storage and substitution effects make an important contribution to climate protection. The German Resource Efficiency Programme also highlights the importance of sustainable building in general and building with renewable raw materials in particular in order to achieve the goals of resource efficiency.

Our aim is to create a secure database for the evidence-based assessment of the climate and environmental impacts associated with the use of wood in the building sector in Germany and a well-founded identification of existing potentials for increasing resource efficiency and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Approach

We compile standard-compliant LCA data for identified segments of the construction sector at building level, in which corresponding information has been lacking so far (focus: non-residential and hybrid construction).

Based on this, we determine the environmental impact of the use of wood in the construction sector and identify further potentials for increasing efficiency in the use of the renewable raw material.