scholarly journals The importance of embodied energy in carbon footprint assessment

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaid Alwan ◽  
Paul Jones
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Design Team ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Operational Energy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Whole Life Cycle

Purpose – The construction industry has focused on operational and embodied energy of buildings as a way of becoming more sustainable, however, with more emphasis on the former. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the impact that embodied energy of construction materials can have on the decision making when designing buildings, and ultimately on the environment. This is an important aspect that has often been overlooked when calculating a building's carbon footprint; and its inclusion this approach presents a more holistic life cycle assessment. Design/methodology/approach – A building project was chosen that is currently being designed; the design team for the project have been tasked by the client to make the facility exemplary in terms of its sustainability. This building has a limited construction palette; therefore the embodied energy component can be accurately calculated. The authors of this paper are also part of the design team for the building so they have full access to Building Information Modelling (BIM) models and production information. An inventory of materials was obtained for the building and embodied energy coefficients applied to assess the key building components. The total operational energy was identified using benchmarking to produce a carbon footprint for the facility. Findings – The results indicate that while operational energy is more significant over the long term, the embodied energy of key materials should not be ignored, and is likely to be a bigger proportion of the total carbon in a low carbon building. The components with high embodied energy have also been identified. The design team have responded to this by altering the design to significantly reduce the embodied energy within these key components – and thus make the building far more sustainable in this regard. Research limitations/implications – It may be is a challenge to create components inventories for whole buildings or for refurbishments. However, a potential future approach for is application may be to use a BIM model to simplify this process by imbedding embodied energy inventories within the software, as part of the BIM menus. Originality/value – This case study identifies the importance of considering carbon use during the whole-life cycle of buildings, as well as highlighting the use of carbon offsetting. The paper presents an original approach to the research by using a “live” building as a case study with a focus on the embodied energy of each component of the scheme. The operational energy is also being calculated, the combined data are currently informing the design approach for the building. As part of the analysis, the building was modelled in BIM software.

scholarly journals Calculation and Evaluation of Carbon Footprint in Mulberry Production: A Case of Haining in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Li ◽  
Yi Wang ◽  
Qing He ◽  
Yongliang Yang
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Carbon Emission ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Carbon Sink ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Ecological Environment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Whole Life Cycle

Carbon footprint refers to the greenhouse gas emissions of an activity during the whole life cycle or a specific period of time. Mulberry is an important cash crop. Thus, establishing a standardized accounting method for the carbon footprint of mulberry production and analyzing its carbon emission scenarios is important in correctly understanding the impact of mulberry production on the environment. Using the life cycle assessment method and on the basis of the statistical data of mulberry production of urban farmers in Haining City, China, in 2014–2016, this study calculates and evaluates the carbon footprint of mulberry production. Results show the following. (1) Indirect carbon emissions is the main part of total carbon emissions, accounting for 85%–88% of total carbon emission, and industrial inputs (fertilizers and pesticides) are the main cause of carbon emissions. (2) The total carbon emissions per hectare in 2016 (6550.73 kgce/hm2) rose relative to the 2015 data (5617.92 kgce/hm2 at least in 2014) (5729.64 kgce/hm2). The output value of mulberry in spring was greater than that in summer and autumn, and the production efficiency of mulberry carbon in spring was higher than that in summer and autumn. The ecological environment of the mulberry production industry can be improved by increasing the resources of carbon sequestration and reducing the source of production input. (3) In general, the photosynthetic carbon sink of mulberry is greater than the total carbon emission and presents a positive externality to the ecological environment.

The energy efficiency and carbon footprint of temporary homes: a case study from Japan

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 326-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matti Kuittinen ◽  
Atsushi Takano
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Tohoku Earthquake ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Refugee Camps ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Proper Design

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the energy efficiency and life cycle carbon footprint of temporary homes in Japan after the Great Eastern Tohoku Earthquake in 2011. Design/methodology/approach An energy simulation and life cycle assessment have been done for three alternative shelter models: prefabricated shelters, wooden log shelters and sea container shelters. Findings Shelter materials have a very high share of life cycle emissions because the use period of temporary homes is short. Wooden shelters perform best in the comparison. The clustering of shelters into longer buildings or on top of each other increases their energy efficiency considerably. Sea containers piled on top of each other have superb energy performance compared to other models, and they consume even less energy per household than the national average. However, there are several gaps of knowledge in the environmental assessment of temporary homes and field data from refugee camps should be collected as part of camp management. Originality/value The findings exemplify the impacts of the proper design of temporary homes for mitigating their energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Energy Assessment of a School Building under Envelope Retrofit: An Approach towards Environmental Impact Reduction

2019 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 03028
Author(s):  
Nazanin Moazzen ◽  
Mustafa Erkan Karagüler ◽  
Touraj Ashrafian
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Rational Approach ◽  
Cycle Phase ◽  
School Building ◽  
The Impact

Energy efficiency of existing buildings is a concept to manage and restrain the growth in energy consumption and one of the crucial issues due to the magnitude of the sector. Educational buildings are in charge of about 15% of the total energy consumption of the non-residential building sector. However, not only operational but also embodied energy of a building should be reduced to get the overall benefits of energy efficiency, where, using energy efficient architectural measures and low emitting materials during every retrofit action can be a logical step. The majority of buildings in Turkey and EU was built earlier than the development of the energy efficiency in the construction sector, hence, without energy retrofit, consume an enormous amount of energy that can be averted significantly by the implementation of some even not advanced retrofit measures. Furthermore, demolishing of a building to construct a new one is not a rational approach concerning cost, time and environmental pollution. The study has been focused on the impact assessment of the various architectural scenarios of energy efficiency upgrading on the Life Cycle Energy Consumption (LCEC) and Life Cycle CO2 (LCCO2) emission. Within the scope of the study, a primary school building is selected to be analysed. Through analysis, the total embodied and operational energy use and CO2 emission regarding the life cycle phase of the building is quantitatively defined and investigated in the framework of life cycle inventory. The paper concentrates on the operation and embodied energy consumption arising from the application of a variety of measures on the building envelope. An educational building with low LCCO2 emissions and LCEC in Turkey is proposed. To exemplify the approach, contributions are applied to a case study in Istanbul as a representative school building. The primary energy consumption of the case study building is calculated with a dynamic simulation tool, EnergyPlus. Afterwards, a sort of architectural energy efficient measures is implemented in the envelope while the lighting and mechanical systems remain constant. The energy used in the production and transportation of materials, which are the significant parts of the embodied energy, are taken into account as well.

scholarly journals Punching Above its Weight: Life Cycle Energy Accounting and Environmental Assessment of Vanadium Microalloying in Reinforcement Bar Steel

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pranav Pradeep Kumar ◽  
David A. Santos ◽  
Erick J. Braham ◽  
Diane G. Sellers ◽  
Sarbajit Banerjee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Carbon Steels ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Microalloyed Steels ◽  
Lower Grade ◽  
Low Alloy Steels ◽  
The Impact

<p>The manuscript presents a detailed analysis of embodied energy and carbon footprint reduction enabled by microalloying of steel, thereby providing a rich global perspective of the (outsized) role of chemical elements added in trace concentrations on the overall footprint of the construction industry. As such, the manuscript addresses an important and timely topic at the intersection of materials criticality, structural performance, life cycle assessment, and policy interventions.</p><p><br></p> <p>The United Nations estimates that the worldwide energy consumption of buildings accounts for 30—40% of global energy production, underlining the importance of the judicious selection of construction materials. Much effort has focused on the use of high-strength low-alloy steels in reinforcement bars whose economy of materials use is predicated upon improved yield strengths in comparison to low-carbon steels. While microalloying is known to allow for reduced steel consumption, a sustainability analysis in terms of embodied energy and CO 2 has not thus far been performed. Here we calculate the impact of supplanting lower grade reinforcement bars with higher strength vanadium microalloyed steels on embodied energy and carbon footprint. We find that the increased strength of vanadium microalloyed steel translates into substantial material savings over mild steel thus reducing the total global fossil carbon footprint by as much as 0.385%. A more granular analysis pegs savings for China and the European Union at 1.01 and 0.19%, respectively, of their respective emissions.</p>

scholarly journals Life cycle energy analysis of a green building in Vietnam

2022 ◽  
Vol 1212 (1) ◽  
pp. 012004
Author(s):  
D L Le ◽  
T Q Nguyen ◽  
H C Pham
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Energy Analysis ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Green Buildings ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Operational Energy ◽  
Life Cycle Energy Analysis

Abstract The paper presents the life cycle energy analysis (LCEA) of an office green building in Hanoi, Vietnam to prove the advantages of green buildings regarding energy efficiency and environmental effects. The case study building is a concrete structured one, which consists of 3 basements, 17 floors, and 1 attic with a gross area of 14,112 m2. In the study, the building’s embodied energy is determined based on the contained energy coefficient of the ith material and its quantity needed. Whereas, the operating energy is computed according to the annual energy consumption of the building, which is stimulated by the EnergyPlus simulation software. Relying on the relative share of the demolition energy with the life cycle energy that has been proposed by previous publications, this category will be estimated. Results showed that the initial embodied energy contributed the largest share to the life cycle energy (61.37%), followed by operational energy (27.61%). It also indicated that the percentage share of the operational energy of a green building is much lower than that of other buildings. The primary reason for this is associated with the usage of environmentally friendly materials and energy-saving equipment in the design option of the green building. Therefore, it can be convincing evidence that may help to change the mindset of decision-makers in Vietnam about green buildings.

Reducing carbon footprint of facilities using a facility management approach

Facilities ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 247-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish K. Dixit ◽  
Charles H. Culp ◽  
Jose L. Fernandez-Solis ◽  
Sarel Lavy
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Facility Management ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Life Cycle Approach ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the importance of a life cycle approach in facilities management practices to reduce the carbon footprint of built facilities. A model to holistic life cycle energy and carbon reduction is also proposed. Design/methodology/approach A literature-based discovery approach was applied to collect, analyze and synthesize the results of published case studies from around the globe. The energy use results of 95 published case studies were analyzed to derive conclusions. Findings A comparison of energy-efficient and conventional facilities revealed that decreasing operating energy may increase the embodied energy components. Additionally, the analysis of 95 commercial buildings indicated that nearly 10 per cent of the total US carbon emissions was influenced by facilities management practices. Research limitations/implications The results were derived from case studies that belonged to various locations across the globe and included facilities constructed with a variety of materials. Practical implications The proposed approach to holistic carbon footprint reduction can guide facility management research and practice to make meaningful contributions to the efforts for creating a sustainable built environment. Originality/value This paper quantifies the extent to which a facilities management professional can contribute to the global efforts of reducing carbon emission.

A Case Study of Carbon Footprint on Liquor Packaging

2012 ◽  
Vol 262 ◽  
pp. 577-580
Author(s):  
Ya Bo Fu ◽  
Wen Cai Xu ◽  
Yan Ru Jiang ◽  
Ge Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Glass Bottle ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Green Packaging ◽  
Whole Life Cycle

The increasing concern on low carbon and environment protection has aroused a broader awareness of the sustainable development issues to be given to the environmental impacts of packaging products through the whole life cycle. The research of carbon footprint takes the high lights among these studies. The calculation of carbon emissions on commodities has shown many advantages on estimation of global greenhouse gas emissions. In this work, glass bottle liquor packaging was selected as the researching object, its equivalent carbon emissions were investigated by hybrid life cycle method. Through the carbon emissions research of the processes during the whole life cycle including raw materials’ production, packaging process, transportation, consumption and recycling, the carbon footprint on liquor packaging was calculated. The results indicated that the transportation and production of glass bottle contribute the most parts of total carbon emissions, which provides a case support for energy conservation and the development of green packaging.

Aligning financial and functional equivalent depreciations rates of building assets

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 441-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filipa Salvado ◽  
Nuno Almeida ◽  
Alvaro Vale e Azevedo
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Life Cycle Management ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking ◽  
School Building ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Functional Equivalent ◽  
Useful Life ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Both financial and non-financial functions are imbedded in the life-cycle management activities of building assets. These functions provide relevant information for the establishment of operational and maintenance strategies and for decision-making processes related with the timing of major repairs, replacements and rehabilitations. The purpose of this paper is to focus on improving the alignment of financial and non-financial functions related to the recognition that the service potential of buildings should be appropriately funded as it is consumed over its life cycle. Design/methodology/approach Authors undertake an analysis of depreciation rates used to accommodate a systematic allocation of the depreciable amount of building assets over its useful life. Different depreciation approaches and calculation methods are explored. A case study of a school building portfolio is used to debate situations of misalignment of financial and non-financial depreciation rates. Data mining methods including decision tree and clustering are used to predict equivalent functional depreciation rates of buildings system and subsystems and promote an enhanced alignment with regulated financial depreciation rates toward an optimized life-cycle management of the school building portfolio. Findings Historical data show the relevance of considering technical and functional characteristics of the building system and their subsystems (landscaping; structure; external elevations and roofs; interior divisions; and services and equipment) when determining depreciation rates for the building assets The case study showed a misalignment of equivalent functional and financial depreciation rates used in the life-cycle management activities of the school building portfolio ranging between 1/1.26 for external elevations and roofs and 1/5.21 for landscaping. Originality/value Buildings initial technical and functional attributes are affected with its wear, aging or decay, causing loss of value until they reach end-of-life. This paper demonstrates the impact of the different interpretations of the concept of useful life and the subsequent misalignment that it generates between financial functions based on financial depreciation rates and non-financial functions based on historical data and the functional equivalent (technical and functional) depreciation rates. Economic data of 158 public school buildings constructed in Portugal since the 1940s, that sound life-cycle thinking enhances the alignment of both financial and non-financial functions.

scholarly journals Beyond Operational Energy Efficiency: A Balanced Sustainability Index from a Life Cycle Consideration

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 11263
Author(s):  
Ming Hu
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Operating Cost ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Emissions Reduction ◽  
Sustainability Index ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Life Cycle Perspective ◽  
Operational Energy ◽  
Whole Life Cycle

Most deep energy renovation projects focus only on an operating energy reduction and disregard the added embodied energy derived from adding insulation, window/door replacement, and mechanical system replacement or upgrades. It is important to study and address the balance and trade-offs between reduced operating energy and added embodied energy from a whole life cycle perspective to reduce the overall building carbon footprint. However, the added embodied energy and related environmental impact have not been studied extensively. In response to this need, this paper proposes a holistic sustainability index that balances the trade-off between reduced operating energy and added embodied energy. Eight case projects are used to validate the proposed method and calculation. The findings demonstrate that using a balanced sustainability index can reveal results different from a conventional operating energy-centric approach: (a) operating energy savings can be offset by the embodied energy gain, (b) the operating energy savings do not always result in a life cycle emissions reduction, and (c) the sustainability index can vary depending on the priorities the decision makers give to operating carbon, embodied carbon, and operating cost. Overall, the proposed sustainability score can provide us with a more comprehensive understanding of how sustainable the renovation works are from a life cycle carbon emissions perspective, providing a more robust estimation of global warming potential related to building renovation.

scholarly journals Carbon Footprint of a Port Infrastructure from a Life Cycle Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (20) ◽  
pp. 7414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Saravia de los Reyes ◽  
Gonzalo Fernández-Sánchez ◽  
María Dolores Esteban ◽  
Raúl Rubén Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Life Cycle Approach ◽  
Continuous Emission ◽  
Assessment Approach ◽  
Useful Life ◽  
Ch4 And N2o ◽  
Port Infrastructure ◽  
The Impact

One of the most important consequences caused by the constant development of human activity is the uncontrolled generation of greenhouse gases (GHG). The main gases (CO2, CH4, and N2O) are illustrated by the carbon footprint. To determine the impact of port infrastructures, a Life Cycle Assessment approach is applied that considers construction and maintenance. A case study of a port infrastructure in Spain is analyzed. Main results reflect the continuous emission of GHG throughout the useful life of the infrastructure (25 years). Both machinery (85%) and materials (15%) are key elements influencing the obtained results (117,000 Tm CO2e).

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