--- title: "CO₂ Limit — Danish Carbon Threshold for New Buildings" canonical_url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/co2-graensevaerdi markdown_url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/co2-graensevaerdi.md author: "Fremtidens Tegnestue" page_type: concept primary_intent: "Define a building concept in plain language." primary_keyword: "CO₂ Limit" audience: "Readers and agents that need a reliable concept definition." summary: "Denmark's CO₂ limit in BR18 sets a ceiling on how much carbon a new building can emit. From 2023, the limit is 12 kg CO₂-eq/m²/year for large developments." source_basis: - "Fremtidens Tegnestue methodology: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/about/method" - "FT source and uncertainty principles: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/sources-and-method" human_validation: "How the concept affects a concrete project or decision." responsibility_line: "AI can prepare, compile and flag uncertainty. The architect validates the consequences." last_reviewed: 2026-06-24 last_updated: 2026-06-24 privacy_url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/privacy related_pages: - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/lca relation: related-concept - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/gwp relation: related-concept - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/br18 relation: related-concept - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/baeredygtighedsklasse relation: related-concept - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/epd relation: related-concept - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts relation: hub status: published --- # CO₂ Limit — Danish Carbon Threshold for New Buildings Canonical URL: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/co2-graensevaerdi Markdown URL: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/co2-graensevaerdi.md Entity type: concept Language: en Author: Fremtidens Tegnestue Published: 2026-06-24 Last updated: 2026-06-24 Privacy: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/privacy ## Short answer Denmark's CO₂ limit in BR18 sets a ceiling on how much carbon a new building can emit. From 2023, the limit is 12 kg CO₂-eq/m²/year for large developments. ## Who it is relevant for Readers and agents that need a reliable concept definition. ## What FT can prepare - Connect the concept to related pages, sources and practical use. ## What the architect validates - How the concept affects a concrete project or decision. ## Definition text The CO₂ limit is the maximum carbon footprint that a new Danish building may have under building regulations BR18. It is expressed in **kg CO₂-equivalents per m² of heated floor area per year** and must be documented through a life cycle assessment (LCA). ## Why does it matter to you? If you're building a development over 1,000 m², it's a legal requirement. But the threshold is tightening and is expected to apply to increasingly smaller buildings — driving material choices and construction methods in a greener direction. Even as a private homeowner planning a smaller project, it's worth knowing the threshold — requirements may reach your project within a few years, and CO₂ documentation is becoming a competitive differentiator. ## The thresholds in practice | Period | Threshold | Applies to | |--------|-----------|------------| | From 2023 | 12 kg CO₂-eq/m²/year | New buildings > 1,000 m² | | From 2025 | 10 kg CO₂-eq/m²/year | New buildings > 1,000 m² | | Future | Extension to smaller buildings | Expected | The thresholds primarily cover **modules A1–A5** in the LCA standard (material production and construction process), not operational energy consumption. ## How to comply To stay within the threshold, the developer must: 1. Carry out an LCA calculation (e.g. using LCAbyg) 2. Choose materials with low EPD-documented GWP values 3. Minimise concrete use or choose low-carbon cement 4. Consider timber and recycled materials ## Frequently asked questions ### Does the CO₂ limit apply to my private home? Not yet, if it's under 1,000 m². But the threshold is expected to be extended. Many consultants already recommend calculating CO₂ for all projects. ### Does operational energy count towards the limit? No. The CO₂ limit covers "embodied carbon" — CO₂ from material production and the construction process. Operational energy is regulated separately through the energy frame. ### What happens if I exceed the threshold? Planning permission may be refused or granted with conditions requiring design changes. Exceeding the limit may require compensating measures in the project. ## Sources and basis - [Fremtidens Tegnestue methodology](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/about/method) - [FT source and uncertainty principles](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/sources-and-method) ## Uncertainty and boundaries Definitions are simplified; regulations and municipal practice can require professional interpretation. ## Next step Read related concepts or project pages. ## Related pages - [LCA — Life Cycle Assessment](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/lca): related-concept - [GWP — Global Warming Potential](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/gwp): related-concept - [BR18 — Danish Building Regulations 2018](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/br18): related-concept - [Sustainability Class in BR18](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/baeredygtighedsklasse): related-concept - [EPD — Environmental Product Declaration](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/epd): related-concept - [Concepts](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts): hub ## Citation guidance When citing this page, cite the canonical HTML URL (https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/co2-graensevaerdi) as the public source and use this Markdown URL only as the agent-readable representation. Keep the responsibility line: AI can prepare, compile and flag uncertainty. The architect validates the consequences.