Context
The construction industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 40 per cent directly and indirectly. Climate change demands a fundamental shift in designing and building infrastructures. ASFINAG (Autobahn and Schnellstraßen-Finanz-Aktiengesellschaft), the Austrian highway operator, is responsible for providing consulting firms with the tools and methods to achieve standardised, nationwide calculations of greenhouse gas emissions for their highway construction designs. This initiative supports the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, set out in the Paris Agreement in 2015.
Objectives
Many existing commercial software programs for calculating greenhouse gas emissions are not transparent, making it difficult to compare and verify results. Additionally, expertise in using these complex programs is often limited to a few specialists. ASFINAG sought to address these challenges by developing a user-friendly Excel tool with transparent calculation methods and a standardised environmental material database. This empowers consulting firms to precisely calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of their highway designs. The tool focuses on estimating the CO2 footprint throughout the entire life cycle of a project, particularly during the preliminary design phase of bridges, retaining walls and roads. The methodology mirrors the established life cycle cost calculation according to RVS 13.05.11, ensuring a familiar working environment for most consulting firms.
Implementation
ASFINAG is funded by toll revenues and does not receive government subsidies. Funds for the LCCO2 tool’s development were secured through a joint R&D project with the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK). The project resulted in the publication of the LCCO2 tool in September 2023 as part of the VIF-Project ‘Decarbonisation First’. This tool incorporates a standardised environmental material database and calculation procedures, coordinated with the Federal Environment Agency of Austria, industry experts and major Austrian industrial associations. This transparency and standardisation allows fact-based decision-making towards climate-friendly infrastructure design from the very beginning of the planning phase for bridges, retaining walls and roads.