
Now, Scandi Byg can inform builders about climate impact already in the bidding phase
Price is often the biggest competitive factor when contractors bid on new construction projects. However, due to the increasingly stringent climate requirements in the construction industry, life cycle assessments (LCAs) are starting to play a significantly larger role. As a result, module manufacturer Scandi Byg has spent the past several months working on conducting an LCA screening for projects as early as the bidding phase, and by the end of 2024, this will become a standard part of the company’s bidding process.
According to Scandi Byg, price remains the largest competitive parameter when bidding on construction projects. But as a result of the ever-tightening climate regulations in the industry, the company is now seeing that builders are increasingly asking for data on the environmental impact and resource consumption of their projects. To address this, Scandi Byg has developed a new solution, allowing project LCAs to be provided in the bidding phase for the first time.
“Typically, LCAs are only included in bids under very special circumstances, as calculating them is both resource-intensive and costly. We wanted to change that, so over a long period, we have been working on a calculation program that allows us to conduct an LCA screening right when we submit bids. This not only benefits the environment, as builders can be aware of the project’s environmental impact from the start and take steps to reduce it, but it also strengthens our position as an attractive and relevant partner for our customers,” explains Flemming Dalgaard, Sales Director at Scandi Byg.
This means that Scandi Byg has now integrated LCA calculations into their bidding software. When inputting quantities and types of materials—such as facades, floors, baseboards, and windows—the program not only calculates the price of the project but also provides a relatively precise estimate of the total environmental impact.
“A lot of work went into getting us to this point. Every construction material’s environmental product declaration (EPD) has been entered into the program, so it automatically calculates the total LCA. This means we can be much more specific in the bids we submit, and at the same time, it is much faster and more efficient when we enter further negotiations,” Dalgaard continues.
First on the market Consulting firm CALCA assisted Scandi Byg with the LCA integration. Their goal was to make it clearer what CO2 emissions cost and what can be done to reduce them.
“It is now much easier for Scandi Byg to get an overview of the relationship between price and CO2 emissions. They can bid on a project based on the builder’s preferences and show that, in the end, these choices will result in, for example, 6 kilograms of CO2 equivalents per square meter. If the builder wants the LCA to fall below 6 kilograms, it’s easy to discuss where optimizations can be made to achieve that and what it will ultimately mean for the price,” explains Christoffer Aaby, consultant and founder of CALCA.
“Instead of needing a consultant to perform these calculations during the bidding phase, Scandi Byg can now handle it themselves, which minimizes the risk of having to redesign the project later. Scandi Byg is undoubtedly a first mover in the market, but I fully expect that more companies will recognize the benefits and start prioritizing this in the coming years,” Aaby continues.
The first step for Scandi Byg is that the LCA calculations now meet the construction requirements valid until June 1, 2025, where site and transport emissions are not yet included. The next step will be to integrate that aspect into the LCA screening as well.