Environmental Impacts of the Selected Building Structures

Increasing concerns about negative environmental impacts of building structures call for higher demands on the design of environmental friendly buildings. This article is aimed at assessing the overall environmental impact of buildings throughout its life cycle as well as on environmental impact of all building materials and building services for single-family homes. This analysis examines the role of utilized green environmental technologies for the following selected impact categories: GWP - global warming potential, EP - eutrophication potential, AP - acidification potential POCP and photochemical ozone formation potential expressed in kg CO2eq, PO43-eq, SO2eq and ethylene within the “Cradle to gate with options” boundary. The LCA assessment methodology and eToolLCD software have been used to model the effects of houses’ life cycle.

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Environmental impacts on historical buildings – an example of the bridge over the former “Głęboka Droga” in Puławy

Budownictwo i Architektura ◽

10.24358/bud-arch_16_151_22 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 213-221

Author(s):

Beata Klimek

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Environmental Impacts ◽

Building Structures ◽

Historical Buildings ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Environmental Threats ◽

External Threats ◽

Ecological Changes ◽

Over Time

The destruction of historical buildings most often results from the physical wear that may occur over time, as well as wear of functional (utility) and environmental nature. Environmental wear of the monuments is related to the changes in the vicinity of a facility, which causes a nuisance in operation and adverse ecological changes. Environmental factors affecting the building structures can be divided into three basic groups: external threats to the environment (neighborhood nuisance), random threats and internal environmental threats. The article presents environmental factors affecting the condition of the historical bridge in the palace and park complex of Princess Izabela Czartoryska in Puławy.

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Environmental impacts of building structures in Taiwan

Procedia Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.proeng.2011.11.2017 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 21 ◽

pp. 291-297 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sheng-Han Li ◽

Hasim Altan

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impacts ◽

Building Structures

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Optimization of RC Structures in Terms of Cost and Environmental Impact—Case Study

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12208532 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (20) ◽

pp. 8532

Author(s):

Michal Ženíšek ◽

Jan Pešta ◽

Martin Tipka ◽

Vladimír Kočí ◽

Petr Hájek

Keyword(s):

Reinforced Concrete ◽

Environmental Impact ◽

Environmental Impacts ◽

Point Of View ◽

Building Structures ◽

Construction Costs ◽

Load Bearing ◽

Rc Structures ◽

Rc Building

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures represent one of the most widespread building systems around the world. This paper deals with the optimization of load-bearing RC structures in terms of cost and environmental impact. The results of the optimization are the dimensions and reinforcement of structural elements for which the total construction costs and environmental impacts are the lowest. Six variants of RC building structures were designed and analyzed in a case study. The construction cost was evaluated on the basis of the national pricing system. The life cycle assessment (LCA) characterization model according to the ReCiPe methodology version 1.08 was used to assess environmental impacts. The main motivation of this article was to show the possibilities of the multi-criteria optimization of a load-bearing structure, not only from a structural point of view but also from economic and environmental points of view. The presented conclusions correspond to this specific construction of the RC structure used in the case study and may not be generalized. Nevertheless, they point to certain trends and patterns that can also be used in the design of other reinforced concrete structures. The method used in this case study could be applied to the analysis of other structures using specific datasets for cost and environmental impact evaluation.

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Multi-criteria analysis of ten single family houses regarding environmental impacts

MATEC Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/matecconf/202031000065 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 310 ◽

pp. 00065

Author(s):

Andrea Moňoková ◽

Silvia Vilčeková

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Environmental Impacts ◽

Reduction Rate ◽

Mineral Wool ◽

Expanded Polystyrene ◽

Building Structures ◽

Single Family ◽

Abiotic Depletion Potential ◽

Abiotic Depletion ◽

Depletion Potential

This study presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of ten single family houses located in Eastern Slovakia with the aim to compare them in terms of the materials and technologies used. The main goal is to investigate and emphasize the reduction rate of environmental impact resulting from using green materials and technologies. Environmental impacts are determined by using eToolLCD software. Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) categories of global warming, ozone depletion, acidification, eutrophication and photochemical ozone creation potential, as well as abiotic depletion potential - elements, abiotic depletion potential - fossil fuels, use of renewable primary energy resources, net use of fresh water, components for reuse and materials for recycling are determined within the cradle-to-grave boundary. Assessed family houses are built as a combination of conventional materials such as aerated concrete blocks, expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS) and roofing mineral wool and natural materials such as wood, cellulose, clay, straw and extensive vegetation roofs. Multi-criteria decision analysis points out that material optimization of building structures as well as the application of green technologies can ensure a considerable reduction of environmental impacts.

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Integration of LCA in the Planning Phases of Adaptive Buildings

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11164299 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (16) ◽

pp. 4299

Author(s):

Schlegl ◽

Honold ◽

Leistner ◽

Albrecht ◽

Roth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Environmental Impacts ◽

Adaptive Systems ◽

Planning Process ◽

Research Work ◽

Research Centre ◽

Building Structures ◽

German Research Foundation ◽

Reduction Of Emissions ◽

Whole Life Cycle

The high consumption of resources in the building industry requires a significant reduction of material in buildings and consequently a reduction of emissions over all phases of the life cycle. This is the aim of the Collaborative Research Centre 1244 Adaptive Skins and Structures for the Built Environment of Tomorrow, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), which addresses research on the development and integration of adaptive systems in building structures and skins. New approaches in building planning are required for the implementation of adaptive buildings. Therefore, a multidisciplinary team from various fields such as architecture, civil and mechanical engineering, and system dynamics is necessary. The environmental impacts of the whole life cycle have to be considered for an integral planning process for adaptive buildings right from the beginning. For the integration of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), four temporal and content-related interfaces were identified in the planning process. Inputs and outputs of the LCA were defined for the relevant planning stages in order to enable the greatest possible benefit for the planners and to minimize the environmental impacts as far as possible. The result of the research work is a methodology that can be used in the future to reduce life cycle-related environmental impacts in the planning process of adaptive buildings (ReAdapt).

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