Carbon neutrality is a good and desirable goal, but until now, it has mostly been thought to apply to a building’s lifecycle, where the largest emissions come from energy consumption, especially heating. Now, concrete climate actions are wanted at an earlier stage, and the significance of emissions during the construction phase is becoming more emphasized. An interesting article about low-carbon construction in Helsinki can be found on the website of the Building Control Association.
The Goal: Carbon-Neutral Construction
Since emissions need to be reduced immediately, the carbon spike during construction must be lowered. One guiding tool will be the limit values for the carbon footprint of construction used in building projects, for which national legislation is currently being prepared. The carbon footprint will set maximum allowable levels for buildings’ lifecycle emissions that must not be exceeded. The means to achieve this will be left to the discretion of stakeholders within the framework of other regulations.
How to Control the Carbon Spike During Construction?
Heating properties during construction, site electrification, and various machinery require a lot of energy, and so far, the energy source has largely been fossil-fueled diesel generators. What if these generators were replaced by a portable battery energy storage system using clean energy? The carbon footprint of energy storage in this use is up to 10 times lower than that of a diesel generator.
This solution also improves worksite conditions by providing a silent and emission-free environment. Power quality improves, and the same solution enables charging of machinery as well as employees’ electric cars.
Interested in an Eco-Friendly Solution That Also Saves Money?
In addition to zero emissions and a smaller carbon footprint, the electricity costs of backup and auxiliary power distribution with energy storage are up to 5–6 times lower than electricity produced by diesel generators. Enico’s MobileESS is a unique portable plug-in solution designed for construction site use. The advantages of a battery energy storage system compared to a diesel generator are significant — besides a much smaller carbon footprint and energy costs, maintenance costs are lower and availability is higher. The portable energy storage system can be deployed easily and quickly within an hour.
