SWEDEN’S FIRST FOSSIL-FREE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT—THE HOPPET PRESCHOOL HAS BEEN INAUGURATED
Amid the islets and skerries, our sheds are part of Sweden’s first fossil-free construction project: the Hoppet preschool on Backa Kyrkogata in Gothenburg, which offers a clear glimpse into the construction projects of the future. We were there to help get it off the ground. And we learned the importance of planning and the complexity of the word “sustainable.” Above all, we visited the preschool, which is now fully operational and teaching sustainability.
Newly built, yet it feels as if it has always been there. Amid the boulders of Bohuslän and in the middle of a small alder forest, a nature-friendly playground spreads out, and an architecturally unassuming structure rises up, built from both recycled and locally sourced materials. This is where the Hoppet preschool is located—the fossil-fuel-free construction project that challenged everything and everyone.
– Sustainable, both in terms of transportation to and from the construction site and in the choice of materials that ensure the building’s long-term sustainability. The key to our success in reducing the climate impact by 70 percent compared to the construction of a typical preschool was a longer planning phase and a reasonable degree of consensus among everyone involved. Everyone wanted to push the boundaries of their working methods and find new approaches, says the project’s site manager and RA Byggs representative, Martin Andersson.
Foamglas instead of a concrete foundation, along with a significant amount of exposed wood that required extensive weather protection, transportation using HVO fuel, and a log of all completed trips.
– We’re currently planning similar projects and looking into both using leftover wood to heat the site and solar-powered sheds that can supply power to the entire site.
Solar panel sheds, HVO fuel, and machines that never stop
The construction industry’s “Roadmap 2045” has been increasingly implemented in recent years, and the industry has gotten off to a flying start by building up internal expertise and is increasingly seeking out more climate-friendly alternatives.
“We’re being brought into the conversation earlier in the process these days. Then we ask ourselves a lot of questions, such as: How can we reduce transportation to and from construction sites? Which is more climate-friendly—an old fuel-powered machine or a newly manufactured electric machine?” These are important trade-offs that aren’t decided in the blink of an eye, but rather through dialogue with all contractors,” says Rebecca Långström, Quality and Environmental Manager at Renta.
Renta’s entire business model revolves around machines in circulation. They shouldn’t just sit idle and rust. The machines should be shared, used, and serviced by professionals. Increased use, increased lifespan = fewer machines produced and less environmental impact. Then there’s the issue of fuel.
– This is also where the discussions get interesting—when we start talking about fuel. Because even though HVO is better, it’s not an endless resource. And even though electricity is best, it requires extensive infrastructure and raises follow-up questions like, “Where does the electricity come from?” This is where solar panel sheds become interesting and may be an answer for the future,” says Rebecca Långström.
Sustainable Spaces and Sustainable Learning
The “Förskolan Hoppet” project took the concept of “sustainability” to its limits and proved to be far more complex and multifaceted. There are many lessons to be learned from this three-year project, but foremost among them is the importance of careful planning, inclusion, and innovative thinking. However, the fact remains that, due to all the specialized features, it is significantly more expensive to build in a climate-friendly way—at least for now. This is something that pioneering projects always have to contend with.
“As demand rises and more providers offer eco-friendly services, we’re able to satisfy both our hearts and our wallets. And now we’re planning Hoppet 2 and 3,” concludes Martin Andersson of RA Bygg.
The preschool welcomed its first children in January 2022, and in April, the grand opening of Sweden’s first fossil-free construction project was held.
“It’s very inspiring to come to this preschool, and we look forward to creating a sustainable and climate-smart preschool in our teaching as well,” Principal Clara Jovic told the newspaper Hela Hisingen.
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