How Building with Wood Can Be Linked to Sales of Building Plots: Results from an Exemplary Site Development in Munich, Germany

Annette Hafner

doi:10.3390/su9060947

Abstract

Cities today seek ways to comply with national climate targets. The urban authorities responsible for city planning are therefore responsible for defining the eco-efficiency of cities for decades to come. They need clear guidelines on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the building stock in a specific area. The use of sustainably sourced wood in construction plays an increasingly vital part in the transition towards eco-cities. Drawing on an exemplary development site in Munich, this paper describes how the sale of building plots can be connected to an agreement to build with wood. Based on an actual research project, site-specific target values regarding greenhouse gas emissions and the amount of renewable material for specific building plots were developed by studying life cycle assessments for different buildings. Wood is introduced as a building material to achieve a minimal environmental footprint. The focus is set on linking the sale of building plots to an agreement to build primarily with wood. Target values for the buildings were developed in close cooperation with the city and were linked to the tendering of the plots. The proceedings and its implementation are shown in this paper.

Highlights

Following the agreements of the Paris Climate Conference 2015 [1], Europe in general and Germany in particular defined ambitious climate protection goals to be reached by 2050
Regarding sustainable city planning and because the building sector has been identified as a major contributor to a city’s environmental pollution, this paper only addresses the topic of buildings and how buildings can contribute to creating environmentally friendly cities
Based on the results of the research project “Development Method to Specify Target Values for CO2-equivalent and Primary Energy Input”, funded by the DBU—German Federal Environmental Foundation, this study presents an actual research project on general life cycle assessment (LCA) values for timber buildings in Germany and their implementation in city planning for an exemplary plot in the city of Munich, Germany

Summary

Introduction

Following the agreements of the Paris Climate Conference 2015 [1], Europe in general and Germany in particular defined ambitious climate protection goals to be reached by 2050. Implementing these goals requires involving all subareas—from industry and infrastructure to buildings and cities. Goal 7 of the UN Millennium Goals present—ensure environmental sustainability— cites the integration of principles of sustainable development into national and regional policies and programs to reverse the loss of environmental resources (goal 7A) [2] This clearly leads to the integration of these ideas into urban planning. Other important issues are promoting voluntary simplicity in lifestyle choices, decreasing material consumption, increasing awareness of environmental and sustainability issues, and supporting local agricultural production and consumption

Methods

Results

Conclusion