How certifications promote sustainable building

12.11.2019

Buildings documented as being sustainable offer benefits for the environment, users and developers. In an online theme, Troldtekt A/S focuses on the benefits of sustainable building certifications. The theme includes interviews with experts from Henning Larsen Architects and Ramboll, inspiration from sustainable buildings in northern Europe - and news about Troldtekt’s contribution to the leading certifications.

According to 90 per cent of the almost 400 property and building experts in the Nordic region who participated in a survey, sustainability is a key factor in determining the success of a project. This is the result of the engineering company Ramboll’s Sustainable Buildings Market Study 2019. The study also shows that, on average, sustainable buildings command 6-10 per cent higher property and rental values while incurring 5-10 per cent lower operating costs.

Building certifications such as LEED, BREEAM, WELL and DGNB make it much more manageable to develop the very best sustainable buildings. Martha Lewis, architect and Head of Materials at Henning Larsen Architects in Denmark, says:

“As architects, we get the chance to create buildings or neighbourhoods that will provide optimum environments for the people who will be using them, because as part of a certification we have to consider a number of parameters very closely. This can be everything from access to details such as grouting materials that don’t release harmful substances. The certification of buildings involves a broad focus on all manner of sustainable measures.”

Troldtekt’s positive role

The interview with Martha Lewis is part of a new online theme at www.troldtekt.com. The theme describes the benefits and opportunities offered by the sustainable certification schemes.

Troldtekt acoustic solutions count positively towards certification. The acoustic panels are an all-natural product consisting of cement and wood – and the Troldtekt products are Cradle to Cradle-certified at silver level.

“The basic idea is that products and waste enter into cycles to create new value. Our panels do this in several ways, for example as compost, and through waste products being recycled in cement production. We are constantly setting new sustainable targets,” says Peer Leth, CEO at Troldtekt.

Thoroughly documented by Ramboll

In collaboration with Ramboll, Troldtekt has documented how its acoustic solutions contribute positively to the different criteria laid down by the leading certification schemes LEED, BREEAM, WELL and DGNB.   

Ramboll has produced documentation packages which are designed to help consultants assess Troldtekt’s specific contribution to the four schemes. And good documentation is essential, says Martha Lewis emphatically:

“It makes choosing the right materials much easier if suppliers make a point of ensuring full transparency – even if they’re saying that they don’t quite comply with a certain recommendation. Transparency is a keyword within sustainable building. It makes life much easier for us as consultants, but it’s also important for the developers, so they know what their buildings are made of,” she says.

Eminent office building and sustainable laboratory

The new online theme is an inspirational tour of a number of buildings in northern Europe that are setting new standards for sustainability. In each case, Troldtekt has contributed positively to the certifications.

The list includes, among others, the office building Alnatura Arbeitswelt in Darmstadt, Germany, which has achieved the highest possible DGNB certification – platinum. Unique to the project is the fact that it is a wooden structure with two facades constructed using rammed earth. The theme also includes the office building Eminent in Malmö (certified according to WELL and the Sweden Green Building Council) as well as the wind turbine manufacturer Vestas’s R&D Development Centre (LEED-certified).

Finally, readers can learn about the ‘living laboratory’ for Cradle to Cradle-certified building materials, the C2C LAB, which has just opened in Berlin

Read the theme about sustainable certifications here 

TROLDTEKT – FACTS:

  • Troldtekt is a leading developer and manufacturer of acoustic ceiling and wall solutions.
  • Since 1935, wood and cement have been the main natural raw materials in our production, which takes place in Denmark in modern facilities with a low environmental impact.
  • Troldtekt’s business strategy is founded on the Cradle to Cradle design concept, which plays a key role in safeguarding environmental benefits towards 2022.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Peer Leth, CEO, Troldtekt A/S: +45 8747 8130 // ple@troldtekt.dk       
Tina Snedker Kristensen, Head of Marketing and Communications, Troldtekt A/S: +45 8747 8124 // tkr@troldtekt.dk  

Troldtekt A/S
Sletvej 2A
DK 8310 Tranbjerg J
www.troldtekt.com

Troldtekt acoustic solutions have been installed at the world’s first C2C LAB, which has just opened in Berlin. The renovated building is an educational centre, NGO office and a ‘living lab’ for Cradle to Cradle-certified building materials. ©Olaf Wiechers.
Employees who thrive perform better. This is Eminent’s philosophy, and also why its offices were designed to promote the well-being of users, making it the first WELL-certified office building in the Nordic region. Eminent is also gold-certified by the Sweden Green Building Council. The project near Malmö in Sweden was designed by Kanozi Architects. ©Troldtekt A/S.
Architectural simplicity characterises the psychiatric hospital GAPS in the Danish town of Slagelse, which is DGNB-certified in the gold category. A tranquil spatial layout is combined with engaging spaces and an innovative combination of daylight and artificial lighting. Troldtekt ensures comfortable acoustics and a healthy indoor climate. ©Helene Høyer Mikkelsen.
The new extension at Skolen på Duevej in Copenhagen was designed by AART Architects and Nordic, is DGNB-certified in the gold category, while the superstructure is diamond-certified on account of its high architectural quality. Troldtekt has contributed to the superior acoustics - and to points in the certification. ©Helene Høyer Mikkelsen.
An architectural symbol of the green agenda. The Vestas Technology Centre R&D in the Danish town of Lem is where engineers and energy experts are developing the wind turbines of the future under light Troldtekt ceilings. The centre is LEED-certified in the platinum category. ©aarhus arkitekterne a/s
Alnatura, a German distributor of organic food products, has set new standards for sustainable building and the use of natural materials with its new headquarters in Darmstadt. The building has been DGNB-certified at the highest level - platinum. ©Olaf Wiechers.