Oslo’s renovation revolution

In 2020, Norway’s largest city, Oslo, set itself a remarkable climate goal: to reduce carbon emissions to just 5  percent of their 2009 levels by 2030. Five years on, the city is making impressive progress towards that goal and is now looking beyond direct emissions. In its bid to be a world leader in climate action, Oslo also wants to reduce the amount of embodied carbon used in construction projects as much as possible.

In the latest episode of the Shaping Sustainable Places podcast, we learn how a focus on renovation is helping Oslo achieve this goal. We talk with Heidi Sørensen, Director of Oslo City's Climate Agency, and with Sara Zahl, a Skanska district manager in Oslo and an expert on renovation.

Preserving character and increasing accessibility

Heidi explains that working with the construction sector has already helped Oslo reduce direct emissions. A requirement that all excavators used on construction sites be electric by 2025, for example, has helped reduce construction-related carbon emissions.

In a further step, builders, designers and investors are being encouraged to renovate existing buildings in the city center rather than building from scratch.

Heidi says renovating brings numerous environmental and social benefits. Because the main structure is already in place, fewer new materials are generally needed, avoiding emissions from the production of materials such as steel and concrete. Preserving heritage buildings also helps preserve Oslo’s character, while improving their energy efficiency – with a subsequent reduction in energy-related emissions. Additionally, renovation can open up and improve access for people with mobility challenges.

Despite the benefits, Heidi says there are challenges with renovating older buildings. These include compliance with standards and regulations, a lag in the availability of lower-carbon materials, and a need to increase the speed at which renovation projects are delivered. Heidi points to a range of successful renovation projects in Oslo, including the Sophies Minde community and health facility.

Renovated buildings are attractive to tenants

Skanska’s Sara Zahl agrees with Heidi that renovation has many sustainability and cultural benefits. And she says renovated buildings are highly attractive to building owners and tenants, too. Many businesses today have climate goals, and buying or moving into a renovated office rather than a new-built one can help reduce their overall emissions. What’s more, renovated buildings can be just as comfortable for tenants as new builds.

Sara says Skanska Norway has been doing renovation projects for many years, but opened a dedicated renovation department in 2020. From two teams then, the department has grown to 14 teams today as interest in renovation in Norway has surged.

Focusing on renovation also makes sense for Skanska, according to Sara. Not only is there a growing market for renovation services, but working in the sector helps Skanska to achieve its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2045.

For more details and expert insights, tune in to the full episode of Shaping Sustainable Places on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.