Meet Green Deal requirements with Schüco Carbon Control

With its European Green Deal, the European Union has set a clear goal for Europe: climate neutrality by 2050. It is a huge challenge that will also change the construction sector, which currently accounts for 38% of global carbon emissions. The aim of the Deal is to continue reducing emissions across the entire lifecycle of a building. In future, CO₂ will become a new currency and the carbon emissions of a building will be a main criterion in investments and tenders. With Carbon Control, Schüco helps investors, architects, fabricators and operators to comply with the rising number of legal regulations and find tailored, competitive solutions to meet increasingly complex requirements.

Continuous decarbonisation is key for the future viability of buildings

In future, building assessments will centre around the Global Warming Potential (GWP value), which relates to the full lifecycle of a building. With effect from 1 January 2027, those responsible for the construction process will be obligated to calculate the “Lifecycle Global Warming Potential” for every building as a GWP value and disclose it in the energy performance certificate.

This requirement will initially apply to newbuilds with more than 2000 square metres of usable space and, from 2030, to all newbuilds in general. Being able to control the GWP value will be key for the future viability of buildings

Minimising CO₂ across all stages of construction

Schüco Carbon Control makes monitoring decarbonisation of the building envelope possible. Organised according to the four stages in the lifecycle of a building: planning, construction, operation and dismantling, Schüco Carbon Control provides architects, fabricators, operators and investors with a tailored toolkit for tackling the complex requirements of Green Deal regulations.

Minimising CO₂ throughout the entire building lifecycle

Schüco Carbon Control provides solutions that cover the entire lifecycle of a building, helping to significantly reduce carbon emissions in construction. By taking a holistic view of the building envelope along the value creation chain and across the full lifecycle of buildings, everyone involved in the building process can take a huge step together towards decarbonisation in the construction sector.

Design to Decarb

From the design and planning stage through to construction and operation, carbon-reducing products and services are setting the course for optimised carbon footprints in buildings – both in newbuilds and renovation projects.

Build to Decarb

Carbon-reducing products and services help to minimise the carbon footprint of a planned building and comply with regulatory specifications.

Operate to Decarb

Carbon-reducing products and services enable both the highly efficient, low-carbon operation of buildings and easy maintenance thereof for optimum value retention.

Recycle to Decarb

Forward planning and services help to feed materials that are at the end of their service life back into the cycle as new resources.

Tailored decarbonisation solutions

Schüco Carbon Control enables the reduction of CO₂ across all stages of construction – from planning, construction and operation through to recycling. Investors, architects, fabricators and operators can thereby plan, control and monitor the carbon footprint of a building across its full lifecycle.

Minimise the CO₂ value and increase property value

Solutions for investors

Reduce the CO₂ value during the planning stage

Solution for architects

Safely meet sustainability requirements

Solutions for fabricators

Optimise building operation and carbon footprint

Solutions for operators

Our CO₂ consultancy team supports investors, architects, fabricators and operators to actively minimise a building envelope's carbon footprint.

FAQ

What does Carbon Control mean to Schüco?

Carbon Control is our innovative answer to the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions in the construction industry. Through Carbon Control, Schüco supports investors, architects, fabricators and operators to optimise the carbon footprint of a building throughout its entire lifecycle. All phases of the building are considered here, from the production of building materials and the construction process through to use and possible reuse.

A key aspect of Carbon Control is that it makes monitoring decarbonisation of the building envelope possible. The modular principle from Schüco facilitates project-specific minimisation of CO₂ and covers all phases of the building lifecycle – from planning and construction through to operation and then recycling. The aim is to design buildings in such a way that not only are they energy efficient while in operation, but they also produce significantly fewer carbon emissions across their entire lifecycle.

With this concept, Schüco is helping to achieve the global climate targets by continuing to develop construction projects that focus on climate neutrality. Carbon Control ensures that sustainability is considered at the outset and buildings are developed in a way that enables them to meet the requirements of tomorrow. This is what makes the concept particularly valuable for anyone looking to build with the future in mind.

What does the European Green Deal mean for the construction industry?

The European Green Deal aims to make Europe climate neutral by 2050. As buildings are responsible for a considerable amount of global carbon emissions, the construction industry is facing huge changes. In order to reduce CO₂ values, the Green Deal focuses on energy-efficient renovations and environmentally friendly newbuilds. The Green Deal stipulates a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 55% by 2030 compared to 1990, and from 2028 there will be stricter regulations for newbuilds with more than 1000 m² of usable space. From 2030, all newbuilds will indeed need to meet these requirements.

For the construction industry, this means that it will become increasingly important to keep sight of the full lifecycle of a building – from the production of materials through to use and possible re-use. This is where Schüco Carbon Control comes into play. This concept helps to minimise the carbon footprint of a building from the outset.With the right planning and innovative technology, we can meet the requirements of the Green Deal while at the same time create sustainable, future-proof buildings. Schüco helps all parties involved in the construction process to consistently follow this path and meet the objectives of the Green Deal.

Why is it so important to control carbon emissions?

Controlling carbon emissions is essential in order to slow down climate change and protect the planet for future generations. CO₂ is one of the main greenhouse gases that contributes to global warming, which has far-reaching consequences for the environment, economy and society. It is imperative that we take measures to reducing CO₂, particularly in the construction industry, which is responsible for a significant amount of global carbon emissions.

As part of its European Green Deal, the EU has set ambitious climate objectives: greenhouse gases must be reduced by 55% by 2030, and climate neutrality achieved by 2050. From 2028, stricter CO₂ regulations will apply to newbuilds with more than 1000 square metres of usable space, and, from 2030, to all newbuilds in general. Schüco Carbon Control helps to achieve these objectives. By taking a holistic view of the entire lifecycle of a building, Carbon Control helps to minimise the carbon footprint of buildings for the long term.

What is the Global Warming Potential (GWP)?

The Global Warming Potential (GWP) indicates the greenhouse gas potential of a material and thereby its contribution to global warming. The GWP value therefore calculates the potential impact a building will have on the environment over its entire lifecycle. The GWP calculation is based on two types of CO₂ emissions: embodied* carbon, which is the emissions produced by the construction materials used, and operational carbon, which is produced through operation of the building, for example through energy consumption. The GWP value is given as a CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e).

In the construction industry, the GWP value is an important indicator for assessing the impact a building has on the climate. Schüco Carbon Control aims to minimise both embodied carbon and operational carbon throughout the full lifecycle of a building. Carbon Control therefore helps to reduce the carbon footprint of a building and achieve the climate objectives.

*The embodied carbon can be consciously reduced through the choice of materials. To do this, Schüco offers aluminium and PVC-U material grades with different recycled material content and hybrid constructions. Schüco distributes low-carbon aluminium in accordance with the allotment process. This means that no differentiation is made between the different material grades for delivery. The profiles supplied may therefore consist of low-carbon or standard aluminium, irrespective of what has been ordered.

What is decarbonisation?

Decarbonisation means gradually reducing CO₂ emissions with the aim of ultimately achieving a carbon-neutral economy. Decarbonisation seeks to minimise CO₂-intensive processes in industry, as well as in the construction sector. Decarbonisation plays an important role in the construction industry in particular, as buildings produce huge amounts of CO₂ throughout their lifecycle.

Schüco focuses specifically on decarbonisation with its modular Carbon Control system. It enables a building's carbon footprint to be reduced, from the planning stage through to use and beyond. In the process, both the emissions produced by the construction materials (embodied carbon*) and the emissions produced through operation (operational carbon) are considered. The aim is to make buildings fit for the future and come closer to achieving the global climate objectives.