This report examines how construction processes can be developed to support sustainability ambitions throughout the entire project lifecycle. It identifies and addresses the key barriers preventing sustainable transformation: unclear sustainability goals and strategies, lack of early collaboration between project participants, absence of common language and methods for sustainability requirements, and insufficient resources and management to maintain sustainability goals.
2021
21
Denmark faces the challenge of meeting the national target of reducing total climate impact by 70% by 2030. Buildings and the construction industry represent enormous potential to help address this challenge – but it requires the construction industry’s stakeholders to make a collective effort.
Innovative Construction Process
There is a need to develop and organize a construction process that supports sustainable ambitions and objectives throughout the entire building project – from initial concepts to the final construction. To develop the construction process so it supports sustainability ambitions, we need to understand the challenges and barriers throughout the construction process that prevent sustainable construction.
Summary
The Sustainable Construction Process provides an analytical framework for understanding the challenges of implementing sustainability in construction projects. It examines both the unique characteristics that sustainable construction processes require and the procedural barriers that arise when attempting to integrate sustainability into traditional building projects.
The guide contains:
- Analysis of four main barriers preventing sustainable transformation in construction
- Examination of why sustainability ambitions often diminish during project execution
- Discussion of the gap between sustainability goals and actual implementation
- Insights into organizational and procedural challenges in sustainable construction
- Perspectives on collaboration requirements for sustainable building projects
- Analysis of resource allocation challenges in maintaining sustainability focus
Information about this guide
Who is the guide aimed at?
The report addresses construction professionals seeking to understand sustainability challenges: building owners developing sustainability strategies, architects and consultants working with sustainable solutions, contractors facing implementation challenges, and project managers coordinating sustainability efforts across multiple stakeholders.
What you get from the guide
Readers gain deeper understanding of why sustainable construction projects often fail to meet initial ambitions. The guide provides insights into the structural and procedural barriers that prevent successful sustainability implementation, helping professionals recognize and anticipate challenges in their own projects.
Background
Despite growing awareness of climate challenges and increasing sustainability ambitions, many construction projects fail to realize their initial goals. The traditional construction process struggles to accommodate the additional complexity required for sustainable building. Projects frequently experience gradual erosion of sustainability measures due to budget pressures, time constraints, or unclear ownership of sustainability goals. This report examines why these patterns persist and what conditions would need to change.
Expert group and editing
This publication has been produced and published by the industry initiative Værdibyg with support from Grundejernes Investeringsfond.
The preparation of this publication has been assisted by the following expert group:
Bygherreforeningen:
Cecilie I. Nielsen (Rudersdal Kommune), Cong Vu (KOSMOS DK), Dorthe Bechmann (DoBconsult), Ginette Kathrin Beeck (Casa Consult), Jannik Steen Andersen (Lejerbo), Jesper Kort Andersen (Lejerbo), Kirstine Brøgger (Bygningsstyrelsen), Mikkala Toft (Region Hovedstaden), Morten Buus (BUUS CONSULT), Peter Toftsø (Halsnæs Kommune), Rikke Munch (Gladsaxe Kommune)
DI Dansk Byggeri:
Anita Bech (Pihl og Søn A/S), Betina Thielsen (Balder), Henriette Quebec (Pihl & Søn A/S), Isabella Sjolte Nissen (Pihl & Søn A/S)
Danske Arkitektvirksomheder:
Anne Wewer (KANT Arkitekter), Inge-Lise Kragh (Rønnow Arkitekter), Jorge Vieira Repolho (Juul & Hansen Arkitekter), Jennifer Dahm Petersen (Open Platform Arkitekter), Kaspar Bjørn (Nova5 arkitekter), Karina Søgaard (ksark ApS), Line Grubb (Tid & Sted), Maria Garcia, Nicolas Munkø (Kullegaard), Trine Ivarsen (cco arkitekter), Vibeke Grupe Larsen (VGL)
Foreningen af Rådgivende Ingeniører – FRI:
Christian Engkilde (DOMINIA), Knud Troelsen (Connect Homes), Marie Sellebjerg Møller (Wissenberg), Sara Louise Dinesen (Søren Jensen Rådgivende Ingeniørfirma), Susanne Balslev Nielsen (NIRAS A/S, Bygherrerådgivning)
TEKNIQ Arbejdsgiverne:
Pia Thomsen (ETA-Danmark)
Andet:
Niels Trap (Golder)
Redaktion Værdibyg: Nina Koch-Ørvad (Værdibyg), Stephan Sander (Værdibyg)
Consultant and writer: Jesper Ring (DOMINIA)
Layout: Aske Simonsen
Facts about the guide
The guide was prepared by Værdibyg in 2021 as part of the initiative for value-creating construction processes. It was developed with support from Realdania and in close collaboration with sustainability experts, green building councils, and practitioners who have experience with sustainable construction projects. The guide builds on Danish and international best practices and includes references to relevant standards, certification schemes and regulatory requirements. It is regularly updated to reflect new knowledge and changing framework conditions.
