For a better CO₂ balance
ATP has developed a tool that can calculate gray CO₂ emissions at a very early stage.
Ursula Reiner
The innovative, digital ATP CO₂ Tool enables integrated designers to evaluate the emission values of a range of constructional variants during the early design phases of a project. This enables us to offer our clients a climate-friendly ideal variant
The construction sector is responsible for around 35 % of CO₂ emissions in Germany. This figure is far too high! Hence, a key objective for a climate-neutral future must be a drastic reduction in this share of CO₂ emissions. Alongside the optimization of red CO₂ emissions, we must also focus on gray CO₂ emissions. But which concrete “levers” do we planners have at our disposal? And how do different materials impact upon the CO₂ footprint of a building?
Our solution
The “CO₂ Building Tool” developed by ATP is a digital design tool that enables users to evaluate the emissions values of a range of constructional variants during the early design phases of a building (competition/preliminary design). This process is based on the main elements modeled in Revit.
As soon as the Revit parameters are entered at the component level it is simple to make a detailed investigation of the impact of a range of constructional variants on the ecological footprint of a building.
The ATP CO₂ Tool enables landmark decisions to be taken during the earliest design phases.
Testing the CO₂ Tool
On the basis of an office building with a standard grid we analyzed the following variants:
• A reinforced concrete structure or composite timber slabs with laminated timber beams
• A façade of composite aluminum panels or a purely aluminum façade
Even before making any calculations, one can assume that a composite timber structure is responsible for fewer CO₂ emissions than a reinforced concrete structure. However, the tool enables one to go further and produce detailed figures for these different structural approaches. It also makes it easier to offer detailed advice regarding the CO₂ intensity of different variants as well as, ideally, providing confirmation that the ecologically more sustainable variant is also more economical across the entire lifecycle.
As we develop all our buildings from day one in virtual models and via an interdisciplinary process, we can make perfect use of our CO₂ tool to determine the most resource-friendly, energy-efficient, and low-CO₂ variant of a building. This award reinforces our commitment.
Award
The innovative planning tool received the Green BIM Award 2022. This award, which is presented by the jury under the patronage of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), honors exemplary projects, tools, and methods that provide the digital building industry with solutions for better climate protection.
