What is the carbon footprint? In construction

What is the carbon footprint?

The carbon footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) that are generated by humans when they carry out activities and processes that involve the emission of gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOx) or methane (CH4). These gases absorb and release radiation, impacting the environment and contributing to global warming.

The carbon footprint is an environmental indicator that measures the impact on global warming and seeks to reflect the total GHG emissions created by measuring direct and indirect emissions.

Direct emission is related to the company’s own activity. Indirect emission derives from the practices of third parties.

The personal carbon footprint, on the other hand, is the footprint created by a single individual in his or her daily activities. These practices can include energy consumption in the home, transport, food, clothing, among others. In Spain, per capita CO2 emissions average 5 tonnes, which is causing concern among governments and companies internationally.

On the other hand, the carbon footprint of an organisation refers to the amount of greenhouse gases generated per activity, which includes direct emissions associated with the company’s core business, while indirect emissions are related to the consumption they make to fulfil their activities, but over which they have no control.

Throughout the life cycle of any product or service we use, GHGs are emitted. This is why the chronological process from obtaining raw materials for creation to the end of its useful life must be taken into account when studying the carbon footprint.

To calculate the carbon footprint, emission sources related to industrial processes, energy generation, transport, waste, among others, are identified. Additionally, related activities are determined as the amount of consumption and emission factors are selected as the amount of GHG produced per unit of time.

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) was born as an opportunity in 2001 to calculate GHG emissions. It has become one of the most widely used methodologies in governments, companies and NGOs. It has three scopes related to the study of goods and services purchased, activities related to fuel and energy, travel and waste generated by operations.

How to achieve carbon footprint reduction

Corporations and individuals are increasingly interested in reducing their carbon footprint in response to climate change. This can be achieved through the adoption of sustainable practices. Improving energy efficiency in operations and resource use, using more energy-efficient technologies, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, implementing waste management practices and protecting natural ecosystems are some of these practices.

In construction, the use of environmentally friendly sources requires a holistic understanding of the impact, revealing concrete damage data in order to set targets within corporations, and to make way for the development of future programmes where emissions can be offset.

The combination of strategies can help create comprehensive processes for emission reductions, contributing to environmental sustainability and aligning with global climate change mitigation goals.

According to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established in 2015 by the United Nations (UN) to address various global challenges, carbon footprinting features prominently in several of the targets under Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, addressing the need to build resilient and sustainable infrastructure.

Carbon footprint reduction is considered an integral part of achieving more sustainable economic and industrial development, as it involves the adoption of clean technologies, the promotion of energy efficiency and the implementation of more environmentally responsible industrial practices.

Within the framework of the SDGs, Molins has promoted initiatives in decarbonisation related to R&D&I, to optimise production processes, expand the catalogue with innovative products with a lower environmental impact, improve the circular economy, and introduce new digital techniques in management and control.

Factors influencing the carbon footprint of construction?

In construction, the carbon footprint is generated by the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted directly or indirectly during the life cycle stages of a building.

The size of the building, location, type of energy used, materials, transport, maintenance, lifespan, are some of the factors that are taken into account when analysing the carbon footprint in the building sector.

Material extraction, equipment used, energy consumption, landscape planning, project durability, land use, waste management, and material delivery to the point of construction are some of the details to be considered.

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Strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of construction

Effective implementation of strategies requires the collaboration of all actors involved in the construction process. In this way, reducing the carbon footprint of construction involves adopting strategies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable practices at all stages of the project.

To combat the environmental footprint in construction, advanced strategies must be integrated, including the adoption of technologies designed to improve energy efficiency. In this sense, Molins provides various sustainable innovations in the External Technical Insulation System (SATE), including PROPAM® ECOETICS, which through thermal insulation can reduce up to 30% of the carbon footprint.

It is an insulation whose panel is manufactured from a raw material that comes from biomass, obtained from plant waste. It also stands out for being the first sustainable monomaterial from renewable resources, one hundred per cent recyclable.

This approach not only optimises the energy efficiency of buildings, but also has a direct impact on reducing the carbon footprint associated with their operation. Thanks to the savings, a reduction of between 20% and 70% is achieved in the need to use heating and cooling systems. In this way, by incorporating advanced technologies such as the thermal insulation system, energy waste is reduced and progress is made towards a more sustainable future.

The commitment to a better world is linked to Molins’ business model, its five strategic pillars (growth, sustainability, people, innovation, digitalisation and efficiency) promote healthy and sustainable construction, with a positive impact on the environment. Integrity, adaptability, efficiency, continuous improvement and a commitment to creating innovative products with an interest in conserving the natural environment are characteristic aspects of its processes.

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What are the benefits of reducing the carbon footprint of construction?

Reducing the carbon footprint in construction brings a number of environmental, economic and social benefits related to natural resource conservation, cost reduction, energy savings, climate change mitigation, promoting resilience to extreme events and people’s well-being. In turn, it contributes to the growth of the green market, compliance with regulations and certifications, corporate social responsibility, and continues to drive the promotion of innovation.

In this way, PROPAM® ECOETICS systems bring benefits related to considerable savings in energy bills, as well as better care of the infrastructure and preservation of the building’s integrity, preventing damage due to thermal variations.

Greater resistance to the ageing of buildings and greater shock absorption and waterproofing are other benefits, as they provide acoustic insulation and air-conditioning systems reduce energy consumption.

Furthermore, calculating the carbon footprint of an organisation has a number of advantages by identifying emission points that help to increase transparency in each of the processes, increasing trust and projected credibility.

Reducing the carbon footprint not only benefits the environment, but can also generate long-term savings and improve the reputation and competitiveness of projects.

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