NEWSDAS Expert Talk about Sustainability

Expert Talks video series #2: Sustainability

According to the International Energy Agency, buildings consume around 30% of the world’s energy. For many organizations, climate change and rising costs have made improving energy efficiency a priority. A new video in ASSA ABLOY’s Expert Talks series considers some ways their choice of access solution can make a positive impact – benefitting both business and environmental performance. In embracing their responsibility to reduce emissions, including via embodied carbon, an organization’s choice of access solution can make a meaningful difference. Digitalization of access management may be one contributor to improved sustainability performance.
2025-06-03
1 min read

With expert insights from Olympia Dolla, Head of Sustainability Program at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA, among others, the new Expert Talk gives customers valuable sustainability and green building knowledge to help inform their long-term decisions and investments.

 

Performance across a building’s life-cycle

At the earliest project stages – design and specification – ASSA ABLOY offers in-depth support for architects, developers and specifiers targeting accreditation in six leading green building certifications: BREEAM, LEED, Green Star, WELL, DGNB, HQE.

During product installation, choosing a wireless digital solution makes an immediate difference. With devices which require no cabling around the door, there’s little or no drilling, which reduces power consumption. There’s less damage to the building fabric. And because wireless installation is faster, fitters make fewer site visits, reducing travel.

Operating any digital building system requires ongoing energy consumption. Traditional wired systems draw on mains power to maintain locking.

Wireless access works differently: during operation, battery-powered devices only ‘wake up’ when presented with a credential. They are much more energy efficient than equivalent wired solutions.

Energy use during operation may be eliminated altogether when digital locks are powered by innovative energy harvesting technology.

 

EPDs are more important than ever

The most authoritative way to gauge the impact of a digital access device is with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). An EPD offers a detailed assessment of a product based on a study of its life-cycle. It represents a complete mapping of its footprint from raw material, through manufacturing, logistics and impact during use, to end-of-life recycling.

Product-specific EPDs help architects, specifiers, contractors and developers make accurate forecasts about both embodied carbon and finished building performance. They are also important for accruing points towards green building certifications.

From 2026, a declaration of the results from an EPD must be part of the CE Marking process, and therefore, essential to sell a product or solution to the European market.

The use of EPDs has grown quickly. In fact, many projects already require an EPD to specify a product or solution, well ahead of the new European regulations for the commercial and residential sector, including renovations.

 

Want to learn more about making your access ready for what’s ahead? Click here