Article produced by NXT, written by Søren Egert
Photo by Stine Skøtt Olesen

Steffen Petersen, professor of building science at Aarhus University, believes that regenerative building is about reducing environmental impact to such an extent that the planet’s ecosystems can regenerate themselves. He criticizes the lack of political will and calls for a societal shift where sufficiency replaces growth.

Building accounts for 38% of the total environmental impact, and according to Steffen Petersen, we need to significantly scale back this activity. He sees few signs of real change but points to small movements like the Tiny House movement and conscious housing choices as steps in the right direction. For regenerative building to take hold, it requires new policy frameworks and a rethinking of what it means to create value in society - without overconsuming the planet’s resources.