Copper Helps Reduce Carbon Emissions in Buildings

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Scientific LCA study highlights copper’s superior properties as the material of choice over plastic

The buildings and construction sector accounts for about 35 percent of energy use and creates 40 percent of global energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually. Building operations are responsible for 28 percent of the emissions each year, while manufacturing building materials and the construction process (also referred to as embodied carbon) are responsible for an additional 11 percent.

Embodied carbon emissions are locked in place as soon as a building is built and cannot be reduced through improvements to energy efficiency or by introducing renewable energy systems. Therefore, building construction products (e.g., piping in an apartment) with lower emission impacts are key in addressing embodied carbon.

Research conducted by ICA in collaboration with Sphera and led by Dr. Constantin Herrmann examined three water installation tube systems—copper, plastic multilayer pipes (PEX-Al) and plastic cross-linked polyethylene (PEX)—via a scientific life cycle assessment (LCA) comparison in accordance with ISO14040.¹

The comparative findings, backed by a scientific review panel, definitively concluded that only a copper system ensures high levels of recyclability and material circularity that significantly reduces the environmental impact of a building.

The comparative research shows that when copper is intelligently used in buildings, it reduces CO2 emissions and supports the 1.5°C goal to mitigate climate change and global warming, as stated by The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

A focus on CO2 emissions and primary energy reduction

An LCA assesses the environmental impact of a product from its creation through its use and eventual deconstruction or disposal. Sphera’s LCA study compared three water installation tube systems to determine if the production, lifetime use and deconstruction were comparable for all three systems. The LCA researchers investigated the comparative water use for a 100m2 (~1,076ft2) apartment and covered tubes and additional system components, such as fittings and connectors that combine and fix the tubes. The key variables for comparison included the material’s composition and properties, manufacturing and respective recycling potential.  

Study findings indicate that using copper in a building’s drinking water system cuts around one-third of Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG, Graphic 1) and energy use (Graphic 2) compared to systems made from plastic (PEX-Al and PEX). This is true not only for a drinking water system, but in every application where copper tubes are used to transport fluids in buildings (e.g., heating, air conditioning and gases).

Graphic 1: Global Warming Potential (GWP) results from the comparative LCA study (2021) 

Graphic 2: Resource use, fossil fuels and energy carriers, Abiotic Depletion Potential fossil (ADPf) 

Copper cuts operational and embodied CO2 emissions 

When it comes to operational emissions, copper’s intrinsic properties provide additional GHG savings. For instance, in the EU, heating, cooling and domestic hot water account for 80 percent of household energy consumption. Waste Water Heat Recovery (WWHR) is an available and effective energy-efficiency solution to reduce the energy demand for domestic hot water via direct heat recovery from shower drains. Copper’s excellent thermal conductivity saves approximately 40 percent of energy use and CO2 emissions from domestic hot water production. The combined operational and embodied carbon savings make copper a key contributor to decarbonizing buildings. 

As presented in the study, additional emission reductions can be achieved through copper recycling, conservation and material circularity. Copper can be recycled over and over again without any loss of its properties. By pursuing responsible sourcing and recycling practices across the copper value chain, copper will continue to be the material of choice for sustainable decarbonization technologies. 

 

 

¹Comparative LCA research investigation parameters meet global standards 
The comparative LCA study was conducted in accordance with ISO14040/44, the overarching international standard for LCA, and the three systems were structured consistent with the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). Therefore, the assessment of all three systems was divided into modules: A (product stage and construction process), C (end-of-life) and D (benefits beyond the system boundary). Module B was not included because the findings were the same for all the three materials and is neutral (or does not influence) to the study. Its relative impact is minor and not likely to influence the global results.  
The results are derived from data addressing ten impact categories, as required in standard EN 15804+A2 (the European Standard for the generation of EPD for construction products). Global Warming Potential (GWP), one of the impact categories, compiles the biogenic, fossil fuel and land-use related to GWP. For the GWP category assessment, the baseline calculation of the comparison between the three pipe systems refers to data collected under modules A (product stage and construction process) and C (end-of-life). The LCA provides an additional scenario for comparison that attributes a net credit (including the data from module D, benefits beyond the system boundary) that accounts for the potential impact of product recycling in future life cycles. The study, data, models, indicators and the report are in alignment with ISO 14040/44. 

Energy Management Systems for SMEs

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SMEs can benefit greatly from energy management

Even for non-energy intensive SMEs, the savings potential of energy management practices compared to business-as-usual can be substantial. Energy management does not always need to lead to ISO certification, since this can be a high bar for a small organisation. SMEs could choose to follow the main principles of energy management systems, but implement them more pragmatically, without going for accreditation.

The Application Note supports SMEs in the implementation of such an “Energy Management System – light.” It guides you through the basic steps of implementing energy management in your company and refers to a wide selection of further reading on the subject.

Click to view the infographic on energy management in SMEs 

Click to view the application note on energy management in SMEs

 

Achieving REPowerEU targets on rooftop solar and heat pumps through electrical installations

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Scaling up solar installations and heat pumps in buildings are crucial measures to reduce EU’s reliance on imported fossil fuels from Russia and to accelerate the decarbonisation and electrification of its building stock.

The REPowerEU package aims to double EU solar photovoltaic capacity by 2025 and proposes to double the rate of annual heat pump deployment by 2026.

We acknowledge the progress made both in the Council and in the European Parliament so far while formulating their position on the revision of Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD). We welcome Member States’ strengthening the wording on electrification, solar as well as the skills needed (new recitals 28a and 54a). We also strongly support the proposals by Members of European Parliament’s ITRE Committee which strengthens the REPowerEU proposal and calls for obligation of optimised solar energy generation and heat pump deployment potential and recognising the importance of necessary technical capacities for their deployment such as electrical installations.

For the PV panel and heat pump to be properly integrated into an existing building, the electrical installation of the building must be up to date and adequately dimensioned. Electrified buildings equipped with heat pumps, solar PV, storage and EV charging have a great potential to contribute to demand side flexibility and an increased utilisation factor of green electricity sources if they are smartly integrated into the energy system. The EPBD revision offers a crucial opportunity to ensure readiness of buildings and their electrical installations for the uptake of these solutions.

Therefore, we call on European policymakers to close the loop and address the following asks in the EPBD revision:

  • Support obligations and numerical targets for optimised solar energy generation and heat pump deployment potential along with the necessary technical capacities, as called for in MEP’s Ciarán Cuffe EPBD report, via new article 9a and as called by MEP’s Ciarán Cuffe and Sean Kelly via amendments to article 3. Include electrical installations into the mandate, as proposed by Seán Kelly (EPP).
  • Consider electrical installations as Technical Building Systems (TBS) for their optimal design, dimensioning, management and monitoring ensuring adequate integration of renewables, heat pumps and EV charging, as called by MEP’s amendments from the Greens/EFA, EPP, S&D and Renew Europe.
  • Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) (Art 16 and Annex V) must integrate information about the latest inspection of the electrical installations and its readiness to install new major equipment, as proposed by S&D in ENVI. Inspections should also assess the readiness of TBS (including electrical installations) to work with renewable energy, as proposed by EPP. Every dwelling owner or tenant should have an easy access to information about whether their building and electrical system is ready to add a PV panel, heat pump, EV-charging point and other equipment.
  • Member States should assess the gap between the available and needed workforce to reach REPowerEU objectives and carry out the installations planned in National Building Renovation Plans (NBRPs), as adopted by the ITRE Committee in the framework of EED and RED revisions and put forward by Seán Kelly (EPP) in ITRE EPBD debates. This stock-taking exercise is the most sensible starting point to devise a roadmap to scale up training capacities and address any skills and worker shortages. Accordingly, sufficient training programs should be made available, and participation should be promoted and supported, especially among SMEs. Including KPIs in NBRPs to track efforts on skills and workforce, as put forward by EPP, should be included in the EPBD.
  • As proposed by Pernille Weiss and Maria da Graça Carvalho (EPP), the Commission should set up a dedicated Platform aiming to promote exchanges among Member States, social partners, academia and industry players to support up- and re-skilling efforts in the framework of the EU’s climate and energy targets, similarly to the Just Transition Platform. It should also be complemented by an EU-wide campaign aiming to attract more workers to renewable and energy efficiency careers.
  • Mandatory solar installations and heat pump deployment on new buildings should be extended to buildings undergoing a suitable renovation. Solar installation and heat pump must be systematically considered when a building is undergoing a major renovation, a renovation of the building envelope, a change in heating system or the installation of EV-charging. The increasing need for cooling must be taken into consideration during renovation, too. This is a low-hanging fruit, no-regret solution, already adopted in several member states
  • The mandate should be extended to all non-residential buildings, of all sizes, as well as relevant infrastructure such as carparks. All public, commercial, and industrial customers profit greatly from cheap solar electricity and an efficient heat pump system.

 

Read the full position paper: Achieving REPowerEU targets on rooftop solar and heat pumps through electrical installations