Public defence in real estate economics, M.Sc. (Tech.) Ilmari Talvitie

Title of the thesis: Balancing carbon in the expanding city: Assessing the viability of buildings as climate champions

Thesis defender: Ilmari Talvitie
Opponent: Professor, PhD Satu Huuhka, Tampere University, Finland
Custos: Professor Seppo Junnila, Aalto University, School of Engineering, Department of Built Environment

The aim of this dissertation is to assess the viability of buildings as climate champions in the context of urban regional development

The urban population is expected to grow substantially over the coming decades and it is projected to generate the largest wave of construction activity in human history. As the building sector is a significant culprit of energy and material consumption globally, the necessity to reduce its environmental impact is paramount to restore the climate to a safe operating space. 

This dissertation explores the potential of buildings to act as climate champions in the context of urban regional development, with a particular focus on biogenic construction materials in residential environments. The dissertation is comprised of four peer-reviewed journal articles and the analysis begins by analyzing the state of existing knowledge and assessing key gaps in existing scientific literature. This knowledge is then applied to formulate the underlying framework of this dissertation that is applied to guide a series of empirical case studies conducted across three planning levels: regional, municipal, and local detailed levels.

While top-down policy interventions have successfully reduced operational carbon emissions from buildings, the urban paradigm has unintentionally limited the adoption of biogenic materials on a regional level. This has increased the embodied carbon intensity of new construction, while continued urban growth has led to a net loss in biogenic carbon stocks within urban environments. However, the findings indicate that even as urban areas are expected to expand, residential development can facilitate net carbon uptake as long as appropriate land use efficacy, material selection, and renewability of biogenic materials are ensured.

This dissertation argues that new residential building investments should no longer be justified as ‘sustainable’ solely on the basis of good energy performance. Municipal climate strategies must continue to encourage fossil-free energy production and building energy efficiency but increasingly prioritize low carbon and carbon storing development through regulation and the reimagination of urban typologies.

Keywords: biogenic construction; buildings; carbon storage; embodied carbon; land use; regional development; urban planning; whole life carbon

Thesis available for public display 7 days prior to the defence at Aaltodoc. 

Contact information: ilmari.talvitie@aalto.fi,
+358407179647