Tampere reduces the carbon footprint of day-care centres by up to 22%

The City of Tampere has taken bold steps to address the climate challenges in the construction sector. Its strategic goals focus on carbon footprint calculation, energy efficiency, circular economy, and collaboration with various stakeholders. These principles are strongly reflected in practical decision-making and projects. But how is this implemented in practice, and what role does the One Click LCA software play in this process?

Tampere reduces the carbon footprint of day-care centres by up to 22%

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Carbon-neutral Tampere 2030

The Carbon Neutral Tampere 2030 Roadmap, approved by the Tampere City Council, will serve as the basis for the city's climate and circular economy work. The roadmap contains 397 measures to reduce emissions and increase the reuse of materials. For construction, life-cycle assessment (LCA) and carbon footprint calculations are integrated into projects - with calculations carried out in several steps, from needs assessment to building completion.

The calculation process provides policymakers and planners with valuable information on where a building's emissions come from and how they can be controlled. One Click LCA is a key tool in this work: it allows the city to check the accuracy of the calculations, archive the results, and compare different solutions.

Building-by-building analysis to support decision-making

The City of Tampere has developed a life cycle carbon footprint calculation guideline based on the Helsinki model. The aim is to ensure the comparability of the calculations and to create a uniform practice nationwide. The results of the calculations will be compiled in a central database to compare emissions per building and identify the lowest-carbon options.

Comparison of building materials is a key part of the process. For example, the optimisation of concrete structures for the upper floor has resulted in significant emission reductions. The results of the material comparison in the Koivistonkylä day-care centre show, that:

The carbon footprint of the log structure is about 4 kg CO₂e/m²/a lower than that of concrete.
The carbon footprint is more than 5 kg CO₂e/m²/a higher than with concrete.

The average carbon footprint of log day-care centres in Tampere is 15.05 kg CO₂e/m²/a, which is significantly lower than for conventional building materials.

"When a public developer wants to reduce emissions, the calculations allow resources to be targeted where the impact is greatest."

- Tanja Tyvimaa, City of Tampere, Specialist, Sustainable Housing and Construction

Carbon footprint comparison of building materials

Construction projects collect information on investments, life cycle costs, and carbon footprint at an early stage. In Tampere, there are several examples where a more expensive but lower-carbon option has been chosen for its long-term climate benefits.

For example, a comparison of emissions from concrete, lower-carbon concrete, and log construction shows the following:

Material	Carbon footprint (kg CO₂e/m²/a)	A1-A3 phase emissions (kg CO₂e/m²/a)	Carbon footprint (kg CO₂e/m²/a)
Concrete	18,63	7,19	-1,69
Lower-carbon concrete	15,32	5,98	-1,79
Logs	14,66	5,46	-7,37

These comparisons allow decision-makers to make choices that support carbon neutrality objectives in a cost-effective way.

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Integrating the circular economy into construction

Tampere's circular economy objectives are particularly visible in the renovation of the Tammela school. The zoning regulations require that demolition materials are recycled on the site as widely as possible. This requires demolition material surveys, careful planning, and cooperation between all parties involved in the project.

In addition, the city has research projects underway to develop more flexible ways of incorporating the circular economy into public projects."The circular economy requires more detailed planning and collaboration from the very beginning of projects," says Tyvimaa.

Ready for stricter thresholds

Tampere is preparing for the national carbon footprint limits and their tightening. The city has collected extensive data and shown that:

Emissions from public construction are at a reasonable level.
Residential apartment buildings are at the 16 kg CO₂e/m²/a limit set by Helsinki.

The aim is to further improve the operation in order to reach more ambitious limit values.

15.05 ^{kg CO₂/m²/a}

The average carbon footprint of log day-care centres – up to 22% lower compared to conventional building materials

Future solutions for the construction sector

The case of Tampere demonstrates how carbon footprint calculations, circular economy strategies, and energy efficiency can be effectively integrated for sustainability. With One Click LCA, the city can efficiently compare various sites and low-carbon building solutions.

"Tampere demonstrates that ambitious climate action is achievable – and can be cost-effective in the long run."

- Tanja Tyvimaa, City of Tampere, Specialist, Sustainable Housing and Construction