Embodied air emissions in norway's construction sector: Input-output analysis

The assessment of macro-level environmental impacts of the Norwegian construction sector can be used to identify key areas for reducing the environmental loads in both construction projects and overall sector performance. Nine types of air pollutants emitted from the Norwegian construction sector are examined by using input-output and time series analysis techniques. Results indicate increasing air emissions from this sector, but lower emission intensities (except NH 3), between 2003 and 2007. The total greenhouse gases (GHGs), acidifying gases, ozone precursors and PM10 of this sector grew to 127%, 119%, 108% and 114% from a 2003 baseline level to 2007 respectively. Conversely, the total GHGs, acidifying gases, ozone precursors and PM10 intensities annually decreased 2.7%, 4.3%, 6.5% and 5.0% respectively during these five years. Intensities of all air pollutants except NH 3 are expected to decrease in the future. Total GHG emissions intensities in 2020 are predicted to decline by 13% compared with 2007. Results also show that indirect emissions dominate the total emissions: thus optimized material use and selection of materials with low embodied emissions is the key to further reduce this sector's air emissions..