Documented sustainability is needed

The buildings of the future require documented sustainability

Sustainable construction is today driven by several factors, but two developments in particular are of great importance for construction in Denmark.

One is the stricter climate requirements in the Danish Building Regulations, and the other is the EU Taxonomy, which increasingly influences the decisions of investors, lenders and property owners on new construction projects.

Denmark and the EU

Stricter Danish climate requirements

Denmark has taken significant steps towards more climate-friendly construction. Since July 2025, the requirements for the climate footprint of buildings have been considerably tightened, and more building types are now covered by the climate requirements. At the same time, differentiated limit values have been introduced depending on building type, which places increased demands on design, choice of materials and technical installations alike.

For the ventilation industry, this means that the total climate footprint of systems is becoming increasingly important. The focus is no longer solely on energy consumption, but also on the environmental impact of materials throughout the building's entire lifetime. Energy-efficient air handling units, low pressure drop and high heat recovery therefore play a crucial role in the construction of the future.

The EU taxonomy as a market driver

The EU taxonomy has established a common European definition of what can be considered environmentally sustainable construction. The aim is to create transparency and ensure that investments increasingly support the EU's climate and environmental objectives. The taxonomy has therefore become highly significant for both financial institutions and property investors.

We are seeing growing interest among pension funds, property funds and professional developers in ensuring that new projects meet both national climate requirements and the EU's sustainability criteria. For many projects, sustainability is no longer merely a competitive parameter, but a prerequisite for access to attractive financing and long-term value creation.

Rapid and consistent development

Developments in sustainable construction are moving faster than ever before. Requirements for documentation, energy efficiency, choice of materials and CO₂ reduction are expected to be tightened further in the coming years. At the same time, greater demands are being placed on the indoor climate, comfort and operating economy of buildings.

Ventilation currently accounts for a relatively limited share of a building's total climate footprint, but its importance is growing as the other building components are optimised. It is therefore becoming increasingly important to choose ventilation solutions that combine low energy consumption with high performance and documented sustainability.

Ventilation is also of crucial importance for a building's total energy consumption and occupant comfort. By combining energy-efficient ventilation systems with effective heat recovery, building owners can reduce both their climate footprint and operating costs, while creating a healthy and comfortable indoor climate.

Learn more about DGNB and the other certification standards here

DGNB as the industry's preferred certification

While the building regulations set the statutory minimum requirements and the EU taxonomy creates the framework for sustainable investments, DGNB has become the leading certification scheme for sustainable construction in Denmark.

DGNB is based on a holistic approach to sustainability, in which environmental, economic and social factors are assessed together. The certification covers, among other things, climate footprint, energy consumption, resource consumption, indoor climate, daylight conditions, comfort, operation and the overall quality of the building throughout its lifetime.

For ventilation solutions, this means that the focus is not only on energy efficiency and CO₂ reduction. Emphasis is also placed on air quality, thermal comfort, acoustics, operational reliability and occupant well-being. Ventilation is therefore an important parameter in achieving high DGNB certifications.

As the market matures, we are seeing more developers aiming for DGNB Gold or DGNB Platinum as standard. At the same time, we are seeing increased focus on DGNB Heart, which documents a particularly high level of health and indoor climate. For many investors, DGNB and the EU taxonomy go hand in hand as tools for documenting a building's sustainability and long-term value.

DGNB is administered by the Danish Green Building Council, read more here

The EU Taxonomy Regulation

The EU regulation has created a robust classification system for economic activities that qualify as environmentally and climate sustainable. The Taxonomy Regulation is a financial regulation that gives building owners an incentive to invest in sustainable construction.

Read more about the EU Taxonomy Regulation on the Danish Green Building Council's website

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Since 1 January 2023, BR18 has required Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) calculations to be prepared for all buildings over 1,000 m². The requirement is simple. The annual CO₂ footprint per m² must be less than 12 kg CO₂ eq.

However, this statutory requirement is not particularly ambitious. Fortunately, inspired by voluntary schemes, many developers wish to build far more sustainably.

The Nordic Swan Ecolabel

The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is the best-known ecolabel in the Nordic region and makes it easy for consumers, businesses and the public to contribute to the green transition.

The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is the official Nordic ecolabel, which, together with the EU Ecolabel, is administered by Ecolabelling Denmark.