AI Startup Promises to Slash Construction Emissions—And Time

Europe’s building sector is under pressure to clean up its act. One entrepreneur thinks her software can help do it faster—and smarter.

Carbon rules are tightening, and construction’s emissions problem is finally catching up with the industry. Developers now face a ticking clock as the European Union demands transparency over the climate cost of their materials. But for many, figuring that out is like trying to read the fine print on a moving truck.

And that’s exactly where Lisa Oberaigner steps in.

Meet the Software That Turns Chaos Into Clarity

Lisa Oberaigner, cofounder of Emidat, saw a big mess—and built a machine to clean it up. Her company offers AI-powered software that can automatically track, measure, and even reduce carbon emissions tied to construction materials.

Think concrete, steel, insulation—anything that goes into a building and quietly racks up CO₂ before a single tenant ever moves in.

Oberaigner says most manufacturers still rely on outdated methods to tally up the environmental damage. The standard process? Manual data entry, outside consultants, and long waits. Sometimes over a year. No joke.

Why Carbon Is the New Currency for Builders

Under the EU’s new climate rules, known as the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), developers and manufacturers must report the carbon footprint of their materials. These aren’t soft suggestions. This is regulatory muscle.

The problem? Many small- and mid-sized producers don’t even know how dirty their supply chain is.

Oberaigner’s pitch is simple: feed your production and supplier data into Emidat’s platform, and it spits out Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in days, not months.

That matters because:

• EU construction accounts for about 37% of total carbon emissions.

• A third of those come from the materials and construction processes alone.

• The EU’s Green Deal aims to make the bloc carbon-neutral by 2050—meaning building pollution is firmly in the crosshairs.

That’s a whole lot of pressure on an industry that’s been slow to digitize.

Turning a Data Tsunami Into Actionable Insights

The core of Emidat’s software isn’t just automation—it’s intelligence. The AI doesn’t just fill out paperwork faster. It finds ways to lower the emissions, too.

It does this by analyzing the carbon intensity of raw materials, energy inputs, and logistics. Then it suggests alternatives. Maybe one batch of steel is sourced from a plant powered by renewables. Maybe a supplier closer to home can reduce shipping emissions.

Even slight changes can cut emissions—and costs.

One sentence here. Just to breathe.

It’s not just a reporting tool. It’s a roadmap. A blunt one, too. If a factory is using high-emission methods, Emidat will flag it. If switching suppliers saves 10% on CO₂, it tells you.

How the Emissions Data Looks in Practice

Let’s break it down. Here’s a simple example of how emissions data looks inside Emidat’s dashboard for a building material manufacturer:

The software tracks thousands of entries like these, comparing them in real-time.

Some producers were surprised, Oberaigner says. Others? Embarrassed. “They had no idea how high their emissions were until we visualized it.”

Tech Founders Aren’t Waiting on Regulations

Oberaigner didn’t stumble into this. She studied sustainability engineering and saw firsthand how broken emissions tracking was inside Europe’s factories.

So instead of waiting for regulators or giant firms to fix it, she built the tool herself—with cofounder Felix Tölgyes.

They launched Emidat out of Munich, started small, but quickly got attention. Today, the startup works with manufacturers in Germany, Austria, and other EU markets trying to stay ahead of the compliance curve.

Some clients started using Emidat just to meet the rules. But stayed because it helped them compete.

Manufacturers that can prove lower emissions often win more business. Green specs are no longer fluff—they’re bid-winners.

Not Just a Climate Win—A Business One Too

Here’s what’s wild: reducing carbon emissions used to mean higher costs. Not anymore.

Oberaigner says her clients are discovering that cleaning up their act often saves them money. Cleaner inputs = lower energy bills. Local suppliers = lower shipping costs. Efficient data = fewer consultants.

“We’re not just helping people go green,” she says. “We’re helping them go fast.”

More countries are copying Europe’s rules. The U.S. is weighing similar requirements. Major developers want carbon reports from everyone in their supply chain. And with AI doing the heavy lifting, even smaller players can show up prepared.

In a sector that still runs on spreadsheets and phone calls, Oberaigner’s software feels like a leap into the future.