With increasingly strict climate requirements and a focus on the environment, Erling Vigdal decided to invest in greener concrete five years ago. He runs the concrete company Blanderiet in Gaupne in Indre Sogn, and makes low-carbon concrete in addition to “normal” concrete. Low-carbon concrete contains less cement and therefore has lower CO₂ emissions. But the demand was not as great as Vigdal thought. Since products with lower emissions are often a bit more expensive, they are often chosen out of the bidding rounds. – If there are no environmental requirements, you of course take the cheapest. And he the environmental guy loses his job, says Vigdal. But after several municipalities in Indre Sogn submitted new environmental requirements in their tender rounds, Vigdal’s concrete has become more competitive. Now the government will follow suit. They want stricter environmental requirements for public procurement. Weighted by at least 30 per cent In Norway, the construction industry accounts for 15 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. Four out of ten construction kroner comes from the public sector. The money is used to build everything from schools and old people’s homes to county halls. But the public sector is too bad to set climate and environmental requirements in its purchases, the government believes. In a consultation proposal, they propose to weight the environment with at least 30 per cent in public procurement. The proposal applies to all public procurement – not just the building and construction industry. The government’s proposals for environmental requirements for public procurement Proposal 1: Proposal for new § 7-9: “The contracting authority must place emphasis on minimizing the environmental impact and promote climate-friendly solutions in its procurements, and must set environmental requirements and criteria in the procurement process. Environmental considerations must always be weighted with a minimum of 30 percent and higher where relevant.” Proposal 2: Proposal for new § 7-9: “The client must take into account minimizing the environmental impact and promote climate-friendly solutions in its procurement. Public contracting authorities must set environmental requirements or criteria at at least one of the following stages in the procurement process: a) Qualification requirements b) Requirements specification c) Award criteria d) Contract terms” Proposal for new § 18-1 (3a) “In areas with not insignificant environmental impact, environmental considerations must always be weighted minimum 30 percent.” Proposal 3: Proposal for new § 7-9: “In areas with not insignificant environmental impact, the client must either set environmental requirements for the performance, or weight environmental considerations with a minimum of 30 per cent.” The use of environmental requirements and weighting of environmental considerations can also be combined.” Source: regjeringen.no – In this way, the public sector can increase the demand for green goods and services, says Industry Minister Jan Christian Vestre in a press release. Last year, the public sector bought goods and services for NOK 650 billion. The government’s proposal was out for consultation in March, and is now for further consideration. Blanderiet AS lays concrete in Sogndal. Photo: Sondre Dalaker / news Want stricter environmental requirements Guro Hauge in the Building Industry’s National Association (BNL) believes the proposal is an important first step. At the same time, BNL wants specific environmental requirements for construction projects. The government’s requirement is for all public purchases. – For example, we want requirements to be set on how many kilograms of CO₂ one must have per square metre, says Hauge. She is concerned that the public authorities will cut environmental requirements when the economy gets worse. Blanderiet AS in Gaupne sells both “regular” concrete and low-carbon concrete. Here, ordinary concrete is laid on the block of flats at Lerum brygge in Sogndal. Photo: Ingeborg Grindheim Slinde / news The construction industry itself has previously said that they want measures to become greener. When the government presented new environmental requirements for the construction industry last year, they were blamed for being “relaxed” by the industry. – The government moves at the pace of a mouse. The changes in construction regulations are surprisingly defensive and do not follow up on the good ambitions of the Hurdalsplattformen, said managing director Liv Kari Skudal Hansteen in the Association of Consulting Engineers (RIF) when the new requirements were presented. – Less leeway Many environmental requirements are not necessarily positive, says KS director Helge Eide. He is concerned that the government’s proposal could lead to less room for maneuver and professional discretion. – If environmental requirements lead to a better environment, it is positive for the municipalities and in the long term for their economy. But if it primarily leads to more detailed requirements and less room for action, it is clearly negative. Managing director Robert Steen of Bygghändtverk Norge is also skeptical of the proposed environmental requirements. – Instead of more rules, the public should rather become better at understanding and following the regulations that exist today. He emphasizes that they want environmental requirements, but that the requirements must be predictable and clear. Steen believes that the proposal from the government is not. – Should put in the paper Vigdal in Gaupne produces both normal concrete and low-carbon concrete. Although the demand for environmental concrete has increased and several municipalities are interested, it is still the usual concrete that is used the most. – If there are no environmental requirements, you of course take the cheapest. And the environmental guy loses his job, says Erling Vigdal in Blanderiet AS. Photo: Ingeborg Grindheim Slinde / news – I live in concrete anyway, so it doesn’t mean much to me. But if the government believes that CO2 emissions should be reduced, they should put it on paper, he says.
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The state will tighten environmental requirements in new buildings – news Vestland
