Building carbon footprint calculation during design
A building’s carbon footprint calculation shows how much greenhouse gas is produced over the building’s whole life: from the manufacture of materials and construction to the building’s use and demolition. ESPLAN carries out the calculation during design, while the choice of materials, structures and building services can still be changed. This lets the client make decisions based on numbers rather than assumptions.
Why and when the calculation is needed
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Tell us about your project. We will clarify what you need and prepare an offer that matches its scope.
Book a consultationUnder the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the whole-life carbon footprint must be calculated for new buildings with a useful floor area over 1,000 m² from 2028, and for all new buildings from 2030. Many public clients and funders already ask for it today.
- Comparing options at an early stage: We compare structural and material options and show which choices reduce the carbon footprint the most.
- Calculation based on the design: We calculate the carbon footprint from the preliminary or main design data and the BIM model.
- Report for the client: We prepare a report that can be used in tenders, funding applications or sustainability reporting.
ESPLAN has carried out building carbon footprint calculations since 2025. Because the calculation is done by the same team that designs the building, the results can be taken into account in the design straight away.
The calculation covers the building’s whole life cycle: the manufacture and transport of materials, construction, the building’s use including energy consumption, and end of life. It follows the principles of EN 15978, the standard for life-cycle assessment of buildings.
The calculation is most useful at concept or preliminary design stage, while the choice of materials and structures can still be changed. At a later stage it serves reporting rather than decision-making.
Under the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive it becomes mandatory for new buildings with a useful floor area over 1,000 m² from 2028 and for all new buildings from 2030. Many public clients and funders already require it today.
We need the building’s location, type and size, the design stage, and existing drawings or a BIM model. If we are designing the building ourselves, we use the design data we already have.
Why choose ESPLAN?
Experience since 1989
Designing since 1989. More than 1,600 completed projects means solutions proven on site and in use.Every discipline in one team
Architects, structural and building services engineers work as one team, so the disciplines are coordinated already during design.BIM and ISO quality
A coordinated BIM model, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, and Level 8 engineers responsible for complex solutions.
