A holistic and smart carbon footprint NUKOSI tool for calculating the economic efficiency, energy efficiency, and environmental impact of construction measures

To implement economic strategies that consider the entire life cycle of a property, criteria such as sustainability, agility, usability, safety, time, and cost are crucial. The literature shows that real estate and facilities management researchers strive to develop agile and easy-to-use calculation methods to achieve CO2 reduction goals and better account for building life-cycle costs by choosing green and cost-effective solutions and strategies. However, few tools can address these issues by providing an integrated IT solution to determine the life cycle cost-effectiveness of construction measures through an easy and performant calculation model. For that reason, the research project on cost-benefit simulation with partners from the University of Applied Sciences Mainz and the “LBB” (State Office for Real Estate and Construction), owner of 1600 buildings in Germany, aims to develop a model for calculating the life-cycle costs, energy efficiency, and the environmental impact of buildings in monetary terms based on the “DIN” Standard Building Occupancy Costs (DIN 18960 2020-11). This paper shows a case study calculated by the new tool “NUKOSI” (Use of cost calculator and simulation) based on the Filemaker platform developed by Claris. With this database solution, existing data from the planning phase use to determine the life cycle costs of a building and to establish an ecological balance. It is, therefore, possible to carry out a study and statistical analysis of the updating of the supply variants (sale, construction, purchase, rent) and budget planning or portfolio management, which is performed easily or automatically by own or external staff. These have efficient consequences, establishing a carbon footprint oriented on the construction elements, minimizing operating costs, providing modernization and maintenance planning, and maximizing value. “NUKOSI” is used operationally by the “LBB” as an IT solution and has been tested, for example, in higher education, trade, real estate funds, and religious institutions.