SURAP Footprints

The SURAP Footprints method combines the climate footprint and three resource footprints (materials, water, energy) into a single integrated assessment. This makes it clear whether a measure that reduces climate impact consumes more resources elsewhere—and vice versa.

The footprints were developed based on ecoinvent. The material footprints are based on developments at SURAP and the research project “Raw Material Consumption in ÖKOBAUDAT” (BBSR’s “Zukunft Bau” Innovation Program, July 2023 – May 2024). The contractors were SURAP GmbH and the Center for Environmental Systems Research (CESR) at the University of Kassel. The goal of the project was to supplement ÖKOBAUDAT with the previously missing indicators of material resource use, thereby enabling resource-efficient building design. The methodology is documented in the final report (PDF).

Indicators

Carbon Footprint (Global Warming Potential, 100-year time horizon, in kg_CO2-eq.)

• GWPtotal – total global warming potential, the sum of the fossil and biogenic components
• GWPfossil – Greenhouse gases from fossil sources, such as the combustion of coal, oil, and gas, or the calcination of limestone
• GWPbiogenic – Uptake and release of carbon from biomass, e.g., carbon stored in wood

Energy Footprint (in MJ)

• PENRT – Total non-renewable primary energy, in MJ: Use of fossil and nuclear energy sources for energy and material purposes

Material Footprint (in kg)

• RMI_abiotic – Raw Material Input (raw material use), abiotic: non-renewable raw materials extracted and used, such as minerals, metal ores, and fossil fuels
• RMI_biotic – Raw Material Input (raw material use), biotic: biomass harvested and used from agriculture and forestry
• TMR_abiotic – Total Material Requirement (total primary material input), abiotic: RMI_abiotic plus unused extractions such as waste rock, mining waste, or excavated soil
• TMR_biotic – Total Material Requirement (total primary material input), biotic: RMI_biotic plus unused biomass such as crop and logging residues

The TMR reflects a product’s complete “ecological footprint,” while the RMI reflects only the portion that is actually used. The RMI is also compatible with the official raw materials statistics of the EU and the Federal Statistical Office (RMC Construction indicator).

Water Footprint

• WDP – Water Scarcity Potential, in m³ global equivalent withdrawn: Water consumption, weighted according to regional water scarcity at the point of withdrawal (AWARE method, as in EN 15804+A2)

Life cycle phases

• A1–A3 Manufacturing Phase – Raw Material Extraction, Transport to the Plant, Manufacturing
• B4 Replacement – Replacement of components at the end of their service life
• B6 Energy Use in Operations
• C3–C4 Disposal Phase – Waste Treatment and Disposal
• D Credits and debits outside the system boundary —reported separately