The Powerhouse concept facilitates designing buildings that comply with the reduction targets in the Paris Agreement and shapes the buildings of the future. The definition states maximum and total CO2 emissions per square metre. Achieving this ambitious target will require a high focus on minimizing carbon during the design stage of the building. This process is called Carbon-Design-to-Cost. This will be achieved by designing an energy efficient building with low carbon materials.
In 2025, greenhouse gas emissions related to the Norwegian building and construction industry amounted to approximately 11 million tonnes of CO2, including emissions from imported construction materials. This is a significant reduction from previous years, reflecting ongoing efforts to decarbonize the sector.
Globally, buildings now account for about 30% of final energy consumption and 26% of energy-related emissions. This highlights the critical need for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate-friendly building materials.
The Powerhouse collaboration continues to prioritize these focus areas, aiming to meet the requirements of the 1.5-degree target in the Paris Agreement.
