Can high circularity fit a fixed budget?

Can high circularity fit a fixed budget? How Multiconsult achieved it.

Multiconsult is one of Norway’s leading consultancy firms, delivering expertise across engineering, sustainability, and project management. When competing for a new recycling center in Rogaland, the firm was challenged by the client to design a project that reflected the facility's mission: high circularity.

The Challenge

After winning the project and being appointed Environmental Advisor, Lise Kiely wanted to explore how far emissions could be reduced while staying within the fixed budget. Working closely with a colleague focused on costs, Lise developed 14 different measures, ranging from material choices to operational energy improvements.

The Solution

While Multiconsult typically uses various LCA tools, Lise wanted something faster, more intuitive, and transparent for this specific challenge. The project targeted reductions across three key categories, and she needed a way to simplify the decision-making process for each:

• Low-carbon solutions: Implementing materials such as low-carbon A concrete and wood.

• Circular principles: Implementing circularity in the design to align with the recycling center's messaging.

• Operational energy: Incorporating increased insulation, PV panels, and passive-house standards.

After a recommendation from a colleague and an intensive course with the Reduzer team, Lise integrated Reduzer’s Automodel into her workflow. Why Reduzer? For a fixed-budget project, the Automodel provided three clear advantages:

• Speed: In a time-sensitive project, the ability to provide and modify results quickly is essential. "Although other tools could produce similar numbers" Lise noted, "they could not match Automodel’s speed."

• Transparency: Reduzer provided a clear view of its estimates and results. This transparency made it easier to communicate findings to the client, speeding up the decision-making process.

• Versioning: One of the most valuable features was the capability to create multiple versions with few clicks. Lise could easily create new versions with slightly different variables and instantly see the impact on both carbon and her colleague’s cost estimates, making collaboration easier.

Results and Impact

Multiconsult was one of eight companies competing for this project. After winning the bid, Reduzer became a key tool in their environmental advisory work, proving that sustainability goals can be met within a fixed budget.

Customer Testimonial

“For my early-phase calculation, I needed a tool that was quick and intuitive. Automodel in Reduzer provided the solution, allowing me to generate results, create different scenarios, and compare alternatives. I find the inventory list to be well-organized, offering a great layout and numerous editing options.”

– Lise Kiely, Multiconsult

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