The picture shows modern energy-efficient apartment houses. The houses are equipped with photovoltaic systems. And surrounded by green bushes and trees. © PantherMedia / Westend61 Premium

Construction Industry

Resource efficiency in the construction industry means using energy, materials and space efficiently. Global crises such as climate change, the increasing shortage of resources, and the loss of biodiversity are bringing this topic ever more into focus.

Material Use in the Construction Industry

In 2020, 35.5 million tons of cement were produced in Germany. This required 51.0 million tons of raw materials and around 30 terawatt hours of energy.  Of these 35.5 million tons of cement, 30.1 million tons were in turn consumed for the production of mortar and concrete.

The picture shows in the foreground an excavator whose shovel is lying on a pile of rubble. In the background you can see a house in the state of construction.© PantherMedia / bogdan.hodaThis example indicates: The demand for resources in the construction industry is high. In 2020, for example, about 55.3 million cubic meters of ready-mix concrete were produced; and the numbers are rising. To cover the material demand, around 485 million tons of natural stone, gravel and sand were extracted in Germany in 2018. Only 12.5 percent of the national total demand for aggregates could be met with recycled building materials and another 4.9 percent by industrial by-products. In addition, Germany produces - compared to other EU countries - the largest amount of crude steel, around 40 million tons annually. The amount of steel used in the construction industry represented 35 percent of total German steel demand in 2019.

Construction Industry and Climate Change

Potential for more Resource Efficiency

If an existing building can no longer be renovated in terms of energy efficiency, then the energy efficiency of new buildings should be optimised and gray emissions reduced to a minimum. In addition, by adhering to the principles of circular construction, buildings can advance to become future material stores. The building products used are documented in detail and installed in such a way that as many materials as possible can be recycled or reused at the end of their life cycle.

Tools provided by the VDI Center for Resource Efficiency

  • Resource Checks
    • Lifts

      The resource check shows potential for energy efficiency in connection with elevators. In older buildings in particular, elevators can account for a significant share of total energy consumption.

      Lifts
    • Water Management

      With this resource check, you can identify opportunities to reduce your water consumption in and around the building. Once you have answered all the questions, the evaluation will show you possible resource efficiency potential in connection with your building(s).

      Water Management
    • Hospital: Benchmark Consumption Quantity

      This resource check will tell you how your hospital performs in comparison in terms of heating energy demand, electricity demand and water demand.

      Hospital: Benchmark Consumption Quantity
    • Hospital: Facility Management

      The resource check helps you identify resource efficiency potential in hospital facility management.

      Hospital: Facility Management
    • Hospital: Energetic Renovation

      Find out with this resource check which energy refurbishments should be carried out to sustainably reduce resource consumption in the hospital. Once you have answered all the questions, the evaluation will show you possible resource efficiency potential in connection with your building or buildings.

      Hospital: Energetic Renovation
  • Lifts

    The resource check shows potential for energy efficiency in connection with elevators. In older buildings in particular, elevators can account for a significant share of total energy consumption.

    Lifts
  • Water Management

    With this resource check, you can identify opportunities to reduce your water consumption in and around the building. Once you have answered all the questions, the evaluation will show you possible resource efficiency potential in connection with your building(s).

    Water Management
  • Hospital: Benchmark Consumption Quantity

    This resource check will tell you how your hospital performs in comparison in terms of heating energy demand, electricity demand and water demand.

    Hospital: Benchmark Consumption Quantity
  • Hospital: Facility Management

    The resource check helps you identify resource efficiency potential in hospital facility management.

    Hospital: Facility Management
  • Hospital: Energetic Renovation

    Find out with this resource check which energy refurbishments should be carried out to sustainably reduce resource consumption in the hospital. Once you have answered all the questions, the evaluation will show you possible resource efficiency potential in connection with your building or buildings.

    Hospital: Energetic Renovation

Publications on the topic "Construction Industry"

Brief Analyses

Brief Analysis No. 26: Deconstruction in Building Construction – Current Practice and Potential for Resource Conservation

More than half of the total German waste volume is accounted for by construction and demolition waste from the building industry. This is reason enough to include the demolition and dismantling of buildings in the planning of a building from the very beginning, in order to reduce the volume of waste and conserve natural resources. The brief analysis shows the current practice of demolishing buildings and describes the potential for resource conservation in the construction industry.

  • Brief Analysis
The picture shows a construction site where the shell of a house is being built.© Angelika Mettke

Brief Analysis No. 22: Resource Efficiency Potentials of Industrial Estates

The efficient use of energy, materials, water and space not only saves resources, but also costs for the purchase and disposal of waste, residual materials and wastewater, for example. The networking of companies in an industrial park or with the surrounding residential areas offers many opportunities to save resources. Residential areas in particular offer high efficiency potentials as heat consumers.

  • Brief Analysis
The picture shows an illustration of an industrial park.© VDI ZRE

Brochures

Resource efficiency in construction – From planning to the building

The brochure provides an overview of the definition of resource efficiency and options for integrating resource efficiency aspects from planning to construction. It contains further information and helpful tools as well as best practices.

  • Brochures
Das Bild zeigt die Fassade und den Innenhof eines Neubaus.© ZRS Architekten

Contact

Get in touch for further information or help regarding the topic of "Construction Industry".

Tel.: +49 (0)30 2759506-505

E-Mail: zre-industrie@vdi.de