In a context where the ecological transition is becoming unavoidable, the construction sector finds itself at the heart of global environmental challenges. International compliances such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), ISO standards on carbon footprint, the EPBD in 2028, and the EU Green Taxonomy impose strict requirements for carbon impact reduction. To meet these challenges, construction professionals must equip themselves with the right tools to effectively manage their low-carbon strategy on a global scale.

To conduct an environmental performance study based on the life cycle analysis of a construction project, and specifically to understand the carbon impact of a construction project, engineers, developers, and other stakeholders have access to many types of tools: LCA software, in-house Excel calculators, SaaS solutions – it can sometimes be difficult to navigate!

Whether the goal is to pursue a High Environmental Quality (HQE) approach, achieve an environmental certification, or simply comply with environmental regulations, professionals must equip themselves. Indeed, to successfully carry out a sustainable construction strategy, deliver ambitious and virtuous projects, and commit to eco-design, the right tools are essential!

We have therefore decided to review the different options available to stakeholders in the construction sector who need to estimate, understand, and manage the environmental impact of their construction projects. This is crucial even before submitting the building permit or, in some cases, before purchasing the land.

What are the environmental study tools available for the building ecosystem?

Three main types of tools can be distinguished for managing the carbon footprint of a construction project: the internal tool (Excel), the traditional software (requiring installation), and the web-based software (SaaS).

• The basic tool, the custom Excel spreadsheet: This is often a spreadsheet, typically created using ratios calculated by internal engineers or external consultants.
• Traditional software with installation: This format is still widely used, especially by energy modelling software providers. It requires downloading and can only be accessed from the computer on which it was installed, although no internet connection is required for most of them.
• SaaS (Software As A Service): The newest addition to the construction and engineering sector, it allows easy access to projects directly from an internet browser by entering a username and password.
  
  

When and how to use them during a carbon impact study?

Excel: the in-house tool, made with limited resources

The homemade Excel calculator is a tool most often designed to pre-calculate the carbon impact of a project in the very early stages (sketch or competition phases). The goal is to generate a CO2 estimate of a project based on data collected by the design office during previous missions. Less commonly, other use cases exist, such as macros that automatically associate the correct EPD sheets from environmental databases with components.

In the context of using this spreadsheet, the most frequently cited advantage by design offices that use it is that it is their own "in-house" tool, meaning it is built based on their own:

• Feedback from experience
• Ratios (costs and carbon)
• Classifications and market lots

Totally free, the tool does not have the "black box" nature of a commercial software solution from a third party: the design office has access to every piece of information and control over everything. Users can thus use it entirely independently.

The tool's limitations are inherent, related to its very nature.

The first disadvantage: it requires internal or external resources to enrich it with environmental data collected from previous missions, update data (EPDs) taken from international or national databases, and add new features. This requires time that design offices rarely have available.

The second commonly mentioned limitation is the lack of operability of a homemade Excel file with other software, preventing collaboration and integration into the project’s value chain. Being able to connect and modify a project simultaneously without risking data loss, or connecting to other software such as an LCA tool, are now priority demands from construction industry players. Additionally, it allows access only to data from the structure itself, rather than relying on averages from other users.

The third limitation concerns its functional aspects:

Indeed, software like Excel does not account for simple volumetrics like parallelepipeds, and managing variants, which is necessary to compare the environmental impact of different scenarios, is tedious.

However, companies like Vizcab have developed an Excel Add-In that allows users to continue performing calculations within Excel while automatically matching their construction products with EPDs from Vizcab's databases. Moreover, these data can later be used directly in the Vizcab Platform without data loss.

The desktop: the classic regulatory LCA tool

The first advantage of a desktop software compared to a SaaS solution is that it requires a simple purchase, often without a subscription: you pay once to access the software, and it is yours for life. Additionally, its basic use does not require internet access: it is installed directly on a computer, and no connection is needed to access it.

Functionally, these software tools include classic features expected from a Regulatory Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool: component imports, project variant comparators, synchronization with external databases, and result export functionalities. They allow for generating a life cycle assessment study.

However, what can be clarified about this type of tool is their aspect:

• Not very collaborative: their use is reser””””ved for the PC owner unless using floating licenses, and in all cases, it is impossible to collaborate simultaneously on a project. This can limit interaction with different project stakeholders and the creation of shared databases within a user community.
• Not very scalable: infrequent updates, potentially paid, long bug fixes, and complex connections to other databases that are harder to set up and maintain.
• Not very customizable: A desktop software requires setup time and installation; adding users in case of activity peaks can be complex and time-consuming. Similarly, reconfiguring these tools can be tedious if there are changes in your IT infrastructure.

Let me know if you need any further adjustments!

SaaS: A Seamless, Collaborative Impact Assessment Experience

A SaaS (Software as a Service) solution operates on a subscription basis, meaning the user never owns the software. Instead, they pay for a service, giving them continuous access to a tool that is:

• Up to date, with real-time information updates, particularly in cases where internal databases (e.g. updated ratios, prices, quantities) or external sources (e.g. environmental databases, BIM software such as ArchiCAD) are modified.
• Collaborative: it must enable a community of users to work together, share information on a study, and easily consolidate data collected across various projects led by the organization.
• Supported by a technical team responsible for ensuring 24/7 service availability, as well as experts who provide assistance and share best practices from user communities.

In practical terms, SaaS enables the management of a carbon strategy across all phases of a project in a smooth, agile, and robust way, from:

• The upstream phase (initial design, tenders), where the SaaS allows users to generate an estimated carbon budget for the project based on ratios from market databases, enrich these estimates, create different design options, and identify the most relevant construction scenario in terms of carbon and economic performance. This phase also allows for the generation of a pre-LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), which can be exported to local or regional compliance software depending on the specific requirements of each market.
• The downstream phase, as the project approaches the submission of building permits, where a full Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is required, although standards and methodologies vary between countries. In this context, SaaS stands out from traditional software thanks to its collaborative nature, facilitating the collection of data from various stakeholders or software systems. It also enables reporting, data analysis, and the creation of a learning organization by leveraging the results of previous studies, while adapting to applicable local or international regulations.

The Case of the Upstream Phase: Solving the Cost-Carbon Equation

Where SaaS truly shines is in enabling engineers, developers, architects, social housing providers, and others to engage very early in the project and take control of their project’s carbon strategy — at a stage where meaningful and high-performing design choices can be made from both a carbon and economic perspective.

To illustrate what a SaaS solution can achieve, we present below a detailed comparison between our decision-support software, Vizcab, and the traditional Excel calculators used by engineering consultancies.

In Conclusion:

To implement a relevant and effective carbon strategy, it is essential to have the right tools. Like many other sectors, the construction industry is gradually digitalising, with the growing adoption of interconnected digital tools that together form a digital ecosystem serving construction professionals. BIM (Building Information Modeling) has been more widely adopted in countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom, whereas the integration of carbon assessment into project validation is now emerging as a key priority for all markets — and one where decision-support solutions play a vital role.

To stay competitive and in step with market developments, construction stakeholders will inevitably need to adopt high-performance, collaborative, and interconnected technology suites. In this context, SaaS represents a major asset. It not only enables the effective management of a carbon strategy, but also transforms the low-carbon transition into a true driver of success for your projects.

 

Discover Vizcab — the trusted Life Cycle Assessment platform designed for the construction industry.

AI-powered LCA, +21,000 EPDs, and the expertise of our sustainability engineers to drive your low-carbon strategy.