5. Evaluate

This chapter provides recommendations for the evaluation of emission-free construction projects. It includes suggestions for data collection which aligns with LCA methodology and proposes that key stakeholders share feedback to improve and advance progress in respect of EFCS.

In order to determine if a construction site is emission-free, it is vital to collect data during the construction phase on on-site energy use, transportation energy use, and waste.  As clients increasingly demand demonstrability of emission reductions, accurate data collection becomes indispensable. For green transport and machinery, for example, tracking actual energy consumption and comparing it to conventional emission-producing machinery can provide valuable insights. These measurements not only help in validating emission reductions, but also in learning how to minimise and further reduce emissions effectively. Collecting this data is also a way of identifying whether demands made in the procurement are being met.

The report “Nordic view on data needs and scenario settings for full life cycle building environmental assessment” [3], from WP1 of the Nordic Sustainable Construction project provides in-depth guidance on data collection for conducting LCAs on buildings in the Nordic countries. The report suggests using generic figures for transport and waste since this can be time-consuming and difficult to measure and validate. However, metered data can replace these estimates, which is particularly necessary for energy use. With the increased focus on using LCA methodology for measuring emissions from buildings, software, and other tools to support data collection during the construction phase are continuing to be developed to ease and improve the accuracy of the data collection process.

Contractors need to provide information on kilowatt-hours (kWh) and electricity sources, fuel usage, and the amounts of waste generated. To facilitate this, it is recommended to assign someone to collect data using automated or digital methods that are compatible with LCA methodologies. This system should be established early on in the construction process, be designed for simplicity, and be easy to share among stakeholders. Verification documents or third-party assessments are recommended to validate the measurements.

Establishing a system at the construction site for regular evaluation and feedback on emission-free construction practices allows for the identification and amplification of success while addressing any issues that arise. Creating a process early on for sharing feedback with key stakeholders such as those involved with planning, material and service providers, and external stakeholders can accelerate the progress of the industry towards EFCS.

Evaluation is crucial for achieving the goal of EFCS. The industry is in the early stages of developing emissions-free construction practices, so it is important to thoroughly evaluate the measures taken in each project to assess the effectiveness of these measures. Every phase of the project including the design, planning, procurement, and implementation should evaluate the actions taken to reduce emissions at the construction site. Sharing information is vital for improvement, increasing engagement, and creating benchmarks for the industry. In this section we will go through the A4 and A5 modules and sub-modules and how they are or should be evaluated.

A4 includes the transport of materials, products, equipment, and services to site. This includes all transport from the factory gate to the construction site including return journeys, intermediate storage, and distribution. It also includes impacts and aspects related to losses due to transport. Different methods have been used to calculate this and specific data is often used for A4.

To gather specific data, information about the distance travelled and energy source is needed by way of verification and travel logs. This is approached in partnership with waste hauliers, suppliers, material hauliers, and equipment hauliers.

A5 includes groundworks and landscaping, transportation of products, waste and equipment within the site, construction processes and installation, temporary works, and waste management.

A5.E primarily includes emissions from machinery use and heating and cooling. These emissions are evaluated by gathering data on all machinery used on site, their energy sources, and the amount of energy used. It is recommended to keep verifications of energy sources and record the hours worked on the machinery. For heating and cooling, information is needed on the energy source and amount of energy, which can be obtained from automatic or manual meter readings or verifications of energy sources provided by utility services and contractors.

A5.W includes emissions from waste and waste management. In order to use measured data, gather information from waste hauliers about the volume or weight of the waste and its type. For waste management, data on distance and energy sources can be collected by obtaining verifications and travel logs.

As with the implementation of any new process, although data collection at the construction site can be complicated initially, it can be adapted quickly with the right techniques. It is a good idea to consider a data collection plan before work starts, and assign the proper resources and employee(s) to this task. Data collection methods could be as simple as a data collection sheet or an automated or digital process through logistics software or other platforms that can manage data collection.

Data can be validated by way of third-party audits, utility providers, or from invoices and verifications. Monitoring of the site to ensure that electric machinery or other emission-reduction measures are being implemented can be done by way of electronic monitoring systems or site visits by supervisors, owners, or other key stakeholders. Having a data collection system that can be checked by different stakeholders at different stages of the construction process can facilitate better data quality and transparency.

On the construction site, it is important to collect regular feedback from workers, supervisors, subcontractors, and any other team members involved in the implementation of the project. Setting up regular meetings and recording the pertinent feedback to deliver to the appropriate stakeholders will help to improve both the current project and future projects.

The stakeholders involved in the planning process will need feedback from the construction team in order to evaluate whether the decisions made during the planning and procurement processes resulted in fewer emissions on the construction site.

Communicating feedback to material and service providers throughout the project can help to improve logistics, alleviate operational issues, and inform these providers about the growing demand for the types of products and services that are necessary for emission-free construction.

External stakeholders such as government and regulators, research and academia, and industry groups can utilise the information provided from the construction team and planners to create baselines to determine best practices and influence the market to promote the development of the products and services necessary to achieve emission-free construction.