The embodied carbon reduction potential of optimised energy retrofits in the Danish building stock
Authors
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-01-08
Abstract
This report evaluates the embodied carbon reduction potential of optimised energy retrofits in the Danish residential building stock. The focus is on single-family houses and apartment buildings constructed between 1890 and 1959 and 1960 and 1980, constituting a significant share of existing building stock. A life cycle assessment approach is applied, combining component-level calculations of embodied carbon with upscaling to the national level. Renovation strategies for roofs, ceilings, external walls, ground floors, and floors above ventilated crawl spaces are evaluated using common practice, low-carbon and hybrid material solutions. The results show that embodied carbon impacts vary by component and material choice. Roofs and external walls offer the greatest potential for embodied carbon reduction through optimal cladding choice, while ground floors represent the largest source of embodied emissions. Combined with operational energy savings, integrated renovation strategies can reduce total life-cycle emissions, especially in buildings constructed before 1960.
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