emersus workshop | Reducing the environmental footprint of the building sector: challenges & opportunities

The building sector is at the heart of a major environmental transformation that is redefining its practices and objectives.

The emersus workshop on ‘Reducing the environmental footprint of buildings’ brought together leading experts from a wide range of backgrounds - engineers, builders, design offices and renovation specialists - to share their perspectives and ideas on how to build more sustainable buildings.

Here are the key points to emerge from these discussions:

emersus workshop: when collective thinking is put into motion

🌱 3 Major challenges for continuing to transform the sector

In the face of the climate emergency, industry professionals have identified several strategic challenges:

1. Unite all the players, from the architect to the end customer.

   No more silos! The low-carbon transition requires collective mobilisation, education and the deconstruction of certain preconceived ideas. End customers, in particular, often associate eco-design with unavoidable extra costs. Yet it is possible to reconcile economic and environmental performance. Architects, as key players in eco-design, play an essential role in this systemic transformation.

   
   

2. Looking beyond carbon

   The environmental footprint goes far beyond CO2. Water consumption, resource management, re-use - every aspect and type of project requires an in-depth environmental impact analysis. Eco-design therefore requires a 360° vision that draws on the expertise and common sense of professionals.

   
   

3. Relying on robust environmental standards

   The French regulation RE2020, for example, lays the foundations, but it's only the beginning. Evolving environmental standards provide a stable and ambitious framework to support this transformation.
   

   
   

   

   emersus workshop : work in progress🧠

Despite these significant advances, several obstacles remain to be overcome.

🌱 Barriers to eco-construction: between economic issues and standardisation

1. The economical challenge: reconciling ecology and profitability

   The financial equation remains an obstacle. While low-carbon solutions do exist, they often come with an additional initial cost, particularly linked to the environmental analyses required. The challenge? Developing innovative business models that add value to environmental studies without sacrificing the environmental aspect.

   
   

2. Data standardisation: a complex puzzle to put together

   The sector is coming up against a certain complexity: the lack of harmonisation of environmental data. Regional variations in prices and the lack of interoperability between tools complicate the comparative analysis of ecological impact and economic cost.

   
   

3. Regulatory instability: a delicate balance

   On an international scale, the disparity of environmental standards creates uncertainty for professionals. This heterogeneity of practices and standards between countries represents a real challenge for the sector.
   

   

   emersus workshop : the post-it have something to say 👁️

Despite these challenges, the building sector has a number of assets at its disposal to make a success of its environmental transition

🚀There is no shortage of opportunities to transform the sector

1. Unprecedented individual and collective mobilisation

   The strength of change? Above all, it comes from the men and women in the sector! Individual and collective commitment is growing stronger every day, driven in particular by regulation, especially RE2020, which is acting as a real catalyst. Many companies are adopting increasingly ambitious CSR approaches and carbon targets that set the course.

   
   

2. Digital technology, accelerating the transition

   By integrating the measurement of carbon data throughout the value chain, tools such as emersus are transforming our approach to environmental impact. From architectural design through to operation, these solutions not only make it possible to measure but also to achieve productivity gains. And this is just the beginning: artificial intelligence promises to open up exciting new horizons.

   
   

3. Concrete proof that makes a difference

   Feedback speaks for itself: eco-design is proving its worth! Innovative projects are multiplying, demonstrating that it is possible to combine environmental performance with economic viability. Each eco-designed project thus becomes a concrete example, inspiring even the most sceptical to take action.

The future of the building industry is being shaped today, and together we can rise to the challenge of ecological transition. This transformation requires the commitment of all players, from architects to craftsmen, from developers to end users.

Many thanks to the participants for this moment of collective intelligence in the service of a challenge that is close to our hearts!

See you soon for another workshop!

At emersus, LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) calculations take on their full meaning thanks to human, expert and personalised support. With emersus, construction companies can approach their transition to a low-carbon future with confidence, and above all, with tangible results.

Still not sure? There's only one solution: try emersus.

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