Nordic building LCA comparison
Below is a comparison of different Nordic LCA methods for buildings. The table is compiled by Matti Kuittinen, Ministry of the Environment in Finland, with input from the Nordic building authorites and experts on the different methods that are compared. Please note that this webpage and overview has not been updated since 2021 and some changes might have occured.
11 different methods are compared in the following categories: general information, included life cycle stages, included building parts, included building types, technical service lives (TSL) and replacements, energy, data and other methodological features.
Trafik-, Bygge- og Boligstyrelsen in Denmark have also investigated the different methods further, a report of that can be found here.
Denmark | Finland | Norway | Sweden | EU | |||||||
RTS | |||||||||||
General | |||||||||||
Description | Method for upcoming regulation | LCA tool (for Sustainability Class and DGNB-DK) | Voluntary certification system | Method for upcoming regulation | Voluntary certification system | Standard | Voluntary certification system | Method for upcoming regulation | Proposed extension to the upcoming regulation | Voluntary certification system | Voluntary reporting framework |
Developed by | The Danish Transport, Construction, and Housing Authority | Department of the Build Environment (Aalborg University) | Green Building Council Denmark | Ministry of the Environment | Building Information Foundation (GWP by GBC 2013) | Standard Norge | BRE/ Norwegian Green Building Council | National Board of Housing, Building and Planning | National Board of Housing, Building and Planning | Green Building Council Sweden | European Commissions Joint Research Centre |
Status | Test phase | In use | In use | Under development | In use | In use | In use | Under development | Under development | Under development | Under development |
At which stage can the method be used? | Building permission & completion | Building permission & completion | Design stage / completion | Building permission & completion | Design stage/ post-construction stage | Completion of the building | Completion of the building | Completion of the building | Completion of the building | ||
Methodological basis | EN15978, EN15804 | EN15978 | EN15978, German DGNB | EN15978, Level(s) | EN15978 | EN15978, Norwegian standards | ISO14044, EN15978, NS3720 | EN15978 | EN 15978 | SS EN 15978/15804, EPD, GHG Protocol, EU JRC, EU Level(s) | EN15978, other standards, PEF |
Reference study period (RSP) | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 | 60 | n/a | 50 | 50 | 50 |
User-defined RSP allowed | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Unit for reporting | kgCO2e/ heated m2/ year | kgCO2e/ gross m2/ year | kgCO2e/ m2/ year | kgCO2e/ heated m2/ year | kgCO2e/ net m2/ year | User-defined | kgCO2e/ m²/year | kgCO2e/ gross m2 | kgCO2e/ gross m2/ year | kgCO2e/ gross m2 | kgCO2e/ net m2/ year |
Indicators | GWP, ODP, POCP, AP, EP, ADPe, ADPf, Petot, | GWP, ODP, POCP, AP, EP, ADPe, ADPf, PEtot, Sek | GWP, POCP, AP, EP, ADPf, PE, | GWP, carbon handprint | GWP | GWP | Several | GWP | GWP | GWP | Several |
Verification required | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Included life cycle stages | Sustainability Class (DK) | LCAbyg (DK) | DGNB-DK | Climate Declaration (FI) | RTS (FI) | NS 3720 (NO) | BREEAM-NOR 2016 (NO) | Klimat-deklaration 2022 (SWE) | Klimat-deklaration 2027 (SWE) | NollCO2 remiss v.1.0 (SWE) | Level(s) 2020 (EU) |
A1 Raw material aqcuisition | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
A2 Transport | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
A3 Manufacturing | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
A4 Transport to site | x | x | (x) | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
A5 Construction works | x | x | (x) | x | x | x | (x) | x | x | x | x |
B1 Use in building | - | - | - | - | x | x | (x) | - | - | x | x |
B2 Maintenance | - | - | - | - | x | x | (x) | - | x | x | x |
B3 Repairs | - | - | - | - | x | x | (x) | - | - | x | x |
B4 Replacements | x | x | x | x | x | x | (x) | - | x | x | x |
B5 Refurbishment | - | - | - | - | - | x | (x) | - | - | x | x |
B6 Operational energy use | x | x | x | x | x | x | - | - | (x) | x | x |
B7 Operational water use | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | x | x |
B8 Operational use | - | - | - | - | - | x | - | - | - | - | - |
C1 Demolition works | - | - | - | x | x | x | - | - | x | x | x |
C2 Transport | - | - | - | x | x | x | - | - | x | x | x |
C3 Waste management | x | x | x | x | x | x | - | - | x | x | x |
C4 Final disposal | x | x | x | x | x | x | - | - | x | x | x |
D Benefits/loads beyond system | x | x | - | x | - | x | - | - | - | - | x |
Included building parts | Sustainability Class (DK) | LCAbyg (DK) | DGNB-DK | Climate Declaration (FI) | RTS (FI) | NS 3720 (NO) | BREEAM-NOR 2016 (NO) | Klimat-deklaration 2022 (SWE) | Klimat-deklaration 2027 (SWE) | NollCO2 remiss v.1.0 (SWE) | Level(s) 2020 (EU) |
Foundations | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Piling | x | x | x | x | x | x | (x) | - | - | x | x |
Cellar walls | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Ground floor structure | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
External walls | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Frame | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Facade | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
External doors | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Windows | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Internal walls, load-bearing | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Internal walls, not load-bearing | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Internal doors | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Floor slabs | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | - | x | x | x |
Flooring materials | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | - | x | x | x |
Roofs | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Ceilings | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Stairs and ramps | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Lifts and escalators | x | x | x | x | x | x | (x) | - | x | x | x |
Electricity system | x | x | x | x | x | x | (x) | - | x | x | x |
Lighting | x | x | x | x | x | x | (x) | - | x | x | x |
Heating system | x | x | x | x | x | x | (x) | - | x | x | x |
Cooling system | x | x | x | x | x | x | (x) | - | x | x | x |
Ventilation system | x | x | x | x | x | x | (x) | - | x | x | x |
Renewable energy systems | x | x | (x) | x | x | x | (x) | - | x | x | x |
Water system | x | x | x | x | x | x | (x) | - | x | x | x |
Sewage system | x | x | x | x | x | x | (x) | - | x | x | x |
Data system | - | - | - | - | - | x | (x) | - | - | - | x |
Sequrity system | - | - | - | - | - | x | (x) | - | - | - | x |
Building automation system | - | - | - | - | x | x | (x) | - | - | - | - |
Balconies | x | x | x | x | x | x | (x) | x | x | x | x |
External structures on yard | x | x | x | x | x | x | (x) | - | - | - | x |
Paving | x | x | x | - | x | x | (x) | - | - | - | x |
Interior finishes | - | x | x | - | x | x | (x) | - | x | x | x |
Fixed furniture | x | - | x | x | - | x | - | - | x | - | x |
Furniture | - | - | - | - | - | x | - | - | - | - | - |
Kitchen and bathroom appliances | - | - | - | - | - | x | - | - | ? | x | x |
Vegetation or soil | - | - | - | - | - | x | - | - | - | - | - |
Temporary scaffolding (A5, B3-4) | - | - | - | - | - | x | - | - | - | x | - |
Included building types | Sustainability Class (DK) | LCAbyg (DK) | DGNB-DK | Climate Declaration (FI) | RTS (FI) | NS 3720 (NO) | BREEAM-NOR 2016 (NO) | Klimat-deklaration 2022 (SWE) | Klimat-deklaration 2027 (SWE) | NollCO2 remiss v.1.0 (SWE) | Level(s) 2020 (EU) |
Single-family home | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | (x) | ? | - | |
Residential building | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Office | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Retail and restaurant | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | - |
School and daycare | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ? | - |
Hospital and health | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | - | - |
Sports facilities | x | x | - | x | x | x | x | x | x | - | - |
Cultural and other public | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ? | - |
Religious | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | - | - |
Industrial | x | x | x | x | - | x | x | - | - | x | - |
Summer cottages | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | (x) | - | - | |
Renovation projects | x | x | x | x | x | x | (x) | - | - | ? | x |
Technical service lives (TSL) and replacements | Sustainability Class (DK) | LCAbyg (DK) | DGNB-DK | Climate Declaration (FI) | RTS (FI) | NS 3720 (NO) | BREEAM-NOR 2016 (NO) | Klimat-deklaration 2022 (SWE) | Klimat-deklaration 2027 (SWE) | NollCO2 remiss v.1.0 (SWE) | Level(s) 2020 (EU) |
TSL for products defined | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
TSL for building parts defined | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Energy | Sustainability Class (DK) | LCAbyg (DK) | DGNB-DK | Climate Declaration (FI) | RTS (FI) | NS 3720 (NO) | BREEAM-NOR 2016 (NO) | Klimat-deklaration 2022 (SWE) | |||
Calculation method for the consumption of operational energy | As for building permission (BR18) | As for building permission (BR18) | As for building permission (BR18) | As for building permission (YMa1010/2017) | As for building permission (YMa1010/2017) | NS 3031 or measured consumption | NS 3031 | Not relevant | As for building permission (BBR) | As for building permission (BBR) | Level(s) indicator 1.1 |
Possibility to use market-based GWP-values for energy | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Not relevant | ? | ? | Not defined |
Energy decarbonisation scenario | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Not relevant | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Method for decarbonisation scenario | Danish national policy scenario (COWI 2020) | Danish national policy scenario (COWI 2020) | Danish national policy scenario (COWI 2020) | Finnish national policy scenario (2019) | No | NOR and EU scenarios, decarbonise linearly by 2050 | No | Not relevant | ? | Interpolation to national climate neutrality target | EU PRIMES |
Allocation method for CHP fuels | COWI 2020 | COWI 2020 | Not defined | Benefit-sharing | Benefit-sharing | No | Benefit-sharing | Not relevant | ? | ? | Not defined |
Data | Sustainability Class (DK) | LCAbyg (DK) | DGNB-DK | Climate Declaration (FI) | RTS (FI) | NS 3720 (NO) | BREEAM-NOR 2016 (NO) | Klimat-deklaration 2022 (SWE) | Klimat-deklaration 2027 (SWE) | NollCO2 remiss v.1.0 (SWE) | Level(s) 2020 (EU) |
Generic database (if defined) | Ökobaudat | Ökobaudat | Ökobaudat | National (2021) | Not defined | No | No | National (2021) | National (2021) | (1) National 2021, (2) Byggnad-sektorns Klimat Beräknings-verktyg, (3) Ökobaudat | Not defined |
EPD´s required, if available | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes if possible | Yes | Yes |
Data quality requirements defined | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | (Not relevant) | Yes | Yes | n/a | Yes |
Conservativity' factor on data | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes (10%) | (Not relevant) | (Not relevant) | To be decided | To be decided | n/a | (Not relevant) |
Other methodological features | Sustainability Class (DK) | LCAbyg (DK) | DGNB-DK | Climate Declaration (FI) | RTS (FI) | NS 3720 (NO) | BREEAM-NOR 2016 (NO) | Klimat-deklaration 2022 (SWE) | Klimat-deklaration 2027 (SWE) | NollCO2 remiss v.1.0 (SWE) | Level(s) 2020 (EU) |
Biobased carbon storages reported | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
Cement carbonation reported | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Surplus renewable operational energy reported | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? |
GWP-bio reported separately | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | ? |
GWP-luluc reported separately | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | ? |
Compensations included | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
LCA cut-off rules given | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
Construction-site waste and leftovers included | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? |
End-of-life scenarios specified | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | n/a | ? |
Separate tool available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | ? | No |
Market-based LCA tools allowed | Yes | n/a | Yes | Yes | Yes | n/a | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Did you notice something that is not up-to-date? Please send us information (lifecyclecenter@chalmers.se) and we are happy to update the table!
