How TENC uses One Click LCA to drive holistic, resource-efficient design

Swedish construction consultancy TENC integrates One Click LCA into its workflow, employing early-stage design analysis to achieve over 50% carbon reduction on one project

Founded in 2021 and based in Stockholm, TENC is a construction project management firm focused on resource-efficient design and data-driven decision-making. Specializing in design management, site coordination, and project analysis, TENC works across the full construction lifecycle, from early-stage design to handover and even deconstruction. The firm primarily works with developers, property owners, and larger contractors, helping them optimize materials, labor, and energy use throughout the entire project lifecycle.

"To better understand project decisions, we recognized the importance of incorporating climate impact, costs, and material circularity — including biogenic carbon — into our process. One Click LCA is one of the few platforms that meet this comprehensive need."

— Jakob Tengvald, Founder and Project Manager at TENC

A holistic, data-driven approach to resource-efficient design

As sustainable regulations become increasingly pressing and investor expectations evolve, TENC sees data-driven decision-making as an essential part of delivering greater long-term value to clients and staying competitive. Drawing on experience from large-scale projects from major contracting firms, TENC was founded on the principle that a holistic approach to construction projects can minimize environmental impact and significantly reduce project risk and overall costs. 

This means considering the climate, economic, and social dimensions of each project to identify smarter, more efficient use of resources. However, implementing this approach hasn’t been without challenges. Despite embedding circular design principles into every decision, TENC faced obstacles such as extensive manual data processing, poor traceability, and fragmented analyses. Within the context of Sweden's construction industry, these issues made carbon and cost optimization slow, reactive, and difficult to act upon. Often, the insights came too late in the project timeline to influence outcomes effectively.

Integrating One Click LCA into the workflow

To overcome these hurdles, TENC integrated One Click LCA into its existing project workflows. After evaluating several platforms, the team chose One Click LCA for its large LCA database and its ability to provide comprehensive insights — including carbon impacts, life-cycle costs, and circularity assessments — all in one place.

With extensive use of Building Information Modeling (BIM), TENC's typical workflow begins with model-based controls and cost calculations, which generate a bill of materials and construction timelines. In recent years, the company has developed workflows and integrations that align with its information and data strategy, which support effective material reuse, resale, and long-term maintenance planning. The structured data, generated alongside project partners, is then imported into One Click LCA, enabling precise climate impact assessments that support emission reductions at every phase.

"Looking at the full lifecycle and combining it with cost information allows us to accurately predict the outcomes of different project choices. One Click LCA's wide range of data points is a key benefit, and the new material interface has also been a game-changer."

         — Jakob Tengvald, Founder and Project Manager at TENC

By examining project data from multiple angles, TENC can easily identify areas for improvement. For instance, the team can pinpoint construction elements that drive waste and increase a project's carbon footprint, helping them cut both emissions and unnecessary spending.

Results: Over 50% carbon reduction in early-stage design with One Click LCA

In one project, TENC targeted 153 kg CO₂e/m² for Module A emissions. Thanks to proactive team collaboration and early-stage analysis using One Click LCA, the team delivered an aesthetically appealing design that met standard Swedish cost expectations. Most importantly, it generated less than half the average emissions compared to the national baseline, representing significant carbon reductions.

In another project, even though the design was already finalized, the team used One Click LCA in combination with cost data to identify late-stage optimization opportunities in collaboration with the developer and contractor. The result: a 20% reduction in CO₂ emissions with minimal cost impact.

TENC’s holistic approach also extends to rehabilitation projects. By combining climate data with cost and time analysis for deconstruction, the team pinpointed which reused materials would have the greatest impact. This enabled reduced waste and reliance on new materials, all while staying within budget.

A continuous, life-cycle oriented process adapted to client needs

TENC’s approach focuses on addressing the highest-impact variables at each project phase, tailoring strategies to the specific needs of the client and project. Early on, the emphasis is on overall building form and performance requirements. As the project progresses, focus shifts to specific materials and assemblies.

This allows for detailed analysis of components, such as identifying if plasterboards are driving unexpected environmental or cost impacts. These insights lead to cross-disciplinary collaboration between acoustic, fire safety, and structural engineers to explore more sustainable alternatives. 

Later in the process, this data helps prioritize procurement decisions and guides purchasing strategy. In one project, the main contractor used TENC’s findings to select a new supplier offering the same material at a similar cost but with significantly lower environmental impact.

Balancing climate impact, cost, and material circularity to build better

While many in the industry limit carbon analysis to the construction phase, TENC takes a broader view by integrating life-cycle assessment (LCA) through One Click LCA into its workflows and adapting the process to each client's needs. Incorporating climate impact, costs, and material circularity allows TENC to evaluate the project from a holistic perspective and evaluate long-term costs and climate impacts.

“Embracing a holistic approach and prioritizing climate impact is no longer a niche, it's a fundamental requirement for staying competitive and attracting future clients. At TENC, we believe it's our collective responsibility to help customers reduce emissions and waste. Sustainability isn’t just a marketing message; it’s a solid business case that creates real value — both now and in the future.”

— Jakob Tengvald, Founder and Project Manager at TENC