scholarly journals Hybrid Input-Output Analysis of Embodied Carbon and Construction Cost Differences between New-Build and Refurbished Projects

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Langston ◽  
Edwin Chan ◽  
Esther Yung
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Construction Cost ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Output Analysis ◽  
Embodied Carbon ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cost Differences ◽  
Cost Differentials ◽  
Strong Linear Relationship

Refurbishing buildings helps reduce waste, and limiting the amount of embodied carbon in buildings helps minimize the damaging impacts of climate change through lower CO2 emissions. The analysis of embodied carbon is based on the concept of life cycle assessment (LCA). LCA is a systematic tool to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product, technology, or service through all stages of its life cycle. This study investigates the embodied carbon footprint of both new-build and refurbished buildings to determine the embodied carbon profile and its relationship to both embodied energy and construction cost. It recognizes that changes in the fuel mix for electricity generation play an important role in embodied carbon impacts in different countries. The empirical findings for Hong Kong suggest that mean embodied carbon for refurbished buildings is 33–39% lower than new-build projects, and the cost for refurbished buildings is 22–50% lower than new-build projects (per square meter of floor area). Embodied carbon ranges from 645–1059 kgCO2e/m2 for new-build and 294–655 kgCO2e/m2 for refurbished projects, which is in keeping with other studies outside Hong Kong. However, values of embodied carbon and cost for refurbished projects in this study have a higher coefficient of variation than their new-build counterparts. It is argued that it is preferable to estimate embodied energy and then convert to embodied carbon (rather than estimate embodied carbon directly), as carbon is both time and location specific. A very strong linear relationship is also observed between embodied energy and construction cost that can be used to predict the former, given the latter. This study provides a framework whereby comparisons can be made between new-build and refurbished projects on the basis of embodied carbon and related construction cost differentials into the future, helping to make informed decisions about which strategy to pursue.

scholarly journals Embodied Carbon and Construction Cost Differences between Hong Kong and Melbourne Buildings

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 84-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Langston ◽  
Edwin H.W. Chan ◽  
Esther H.K. Yung
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Construction Cost ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Carbon Profile ◽  
Floor Area ◽  
Embodied Carbon ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cost Differences ◽  
Strong Linear Relationship

Limiting the amount of embodied carbon in buildings can help minimize the damaging impacts of global warming through lower upstream emission of CO2. This study empirically investigates the embodied carbon footprint of new-build and refurbished buildings in both Hong Kong and Melbourne to determine the embodied carbon profile and its relationship to both embodied energy and construction cost. The Hong Kong findings suggest that mean embodied carbon for refurbished buildings is 33-39% lower than new-build projects, and the cost for refurbished buildings is 22-50% lower than new-build projects (per square metre of floor area). The Melbourne findings, however, suggest that mean embodied carbon for refurbished buildings is 4% lower than new-build projects, and the cost for refurbished buildings is 24% higher than new-build projects (per square metre of floor area). Embodied carbon ranges from 645-1,059 kgCO2e/m2 for new-build and 294-655 kgCO2e/m2 for refurbished projects in Hong Kong, and 1,138-1,705 kgCO2e/m2 for new-build and 900-1,681 kgCO2e/m2 for refurbished projects in Melbourne. The reasons behind these locational discrepancies are explored and critiqued. Overall, a very strong linear relationship between embodied energy and construction cost in both cities was found and can be used to predict the former, given the latter.

scholarly journals A Building Life-Cycle Embodied Performance Index—The Relationship between Embodied Energy, Embodied Carbon and Environmental Impact

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Hu
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Impact Categories ◽  
Embodied Carbon ◽  
Unexplored Area ◽  
Environmental Impact Categories ◽  
Building Life Cycle

Knowledge and research tying the environmental impact and embodied energy together is a largely unexplored area in the building industry. The aim of this study is to investigate the practicality of using the ratio between embodied energy and embodied carbon to measure the building’s impact. This study is based on life-cycle assessment and proposes a new measure: life-cycle embodied performance (LCEP), in order to evaluate building performance. In this project, eight buildings located in the same climate zone with similar construction types are studied to test the proposed method. For each case, the embodied energy intensities and embodied carbon coefficients are calculated, and four environmental impact categories are quantified. The following observations can be drawn from the findings: (a) the ozone depletion potential could be used as an indicator to predict the value of LCEP; (b) the use of embodied energy and embodied carbon independently from each other could lead to incomplete assessments; and (c) the exterior wall system is a common significant factor influencing embodied energy and embodied carbon. The results lead to several conclusions: firstly, the proposed LCEP ratio, between embodied energy and embodied carbon, can serve as a genuine indicator of embodied performance. Secondly, environmental impact categories are not dependent on embodied energy, nor embodied carbon. Rather, they are proportional to LCEP. Lastly, among the different building materials studied, metal and concrete express the highest contribution towards embodied energy and embodied carbon.

Development of a Pavement Marking Life Cycle Cost Tool

2018 ◽  
Vol 2672 (12) ◽  
pp. 148-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M. Pike ◽  
Bharadwaj Bommanayakanahalli
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Pavement Markings ◽  
Administrative Costs ◽  
Traffic Delays ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Pavement Marking ◽  
Cost Differences

Pavement marking materials can be broadly classified into two types: durable and nondurable. The durable markings have a longer service life compared with the nondurable and, thus, need to be replaced less frequently. The material cost of the durable markings is higher compared with the nondurable markings. However, the durable markings have several benefits compared with the nondurable markings. Durable markings require less frequent striping resulting in less traffic delays faced due to marking installation and fewer accidents due to fewer work zone closures. The administrative costs associated with contracting and monitoring the work is also lower for durable markings due to less frequent contracting. The primary purpose of this project is to explore the cost differences between durable and nondurable markings, and how various factors can impact the life cycle cost of different marking materials. Researchers developed a life cycle cost calculator that considers the various costs associated with pavement markings to assist in comparing total costs of different marking materials. All costs associated with the implementation of pavement marking projects are considered, including material and installation costs, traffic delay costs and crash costs due to marking installations, and administrative costs to cover contracting and management of the pavement marking assets. This life cycle cost calculator would be another tool that decision makers could use to help choose the most cost-effective pavement marking for the selected input condition.

scholarly journals Comparing construction technologies of single family housing with regard of minimizing embodied energy and embodied carbon

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 00126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arkadiusz Węglarz ◽  
Michał Pierzchalski
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Mineral Wool ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Cumulative Energy ◽  
Wooden Frame ◽  
Embodied Carbon ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Method Of Evaluation

This article concerns the Life Cycle Assessment method of evaluation and the ways in which it can be applied as a tool facilitating the design of buildings to reduce embodied energy and embodied carbon. Three variants of a building were examined with the same functional ground plan and usable floor area of 142.6 m2. Each variant of the building was designed using different construction technologies: bricklaying technology utilizing autoclaved aerated concrete popular in Poland, wooden frame insulated with mineral wool, and the Straw-bale technology. Using digital models (Building Information Model) the building’s energy characteristics was simulated and the embodied energy and embodied carbon of the production stage (also called cradle-to-gate) were calculated. The performed calculations were used to compare the cumulative energy and embodied carbon of each variant for a 40 year long life cycle.

Life Cycle Energy and CO2 Emissions of Residential Buildings in Bandung, Indonesia

2013 ◽  
Vol 689 ◽  
pp. 54-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Usep Surahman ◽  
Tetsu Kubota
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Output Analysis ◽  
Simple Medium ◽  
Operational Energy

This study aims to develop a simplified life cycle assessment model for residential buildings in Indonesia, which can be used under relatively poor data availability conditions. In order to obtain material inventory data and household energy consumption profiles for constructing the above model, a survey was conducted in Bandung in 2011. This paper analyzes life cycle energy and CO2 emissions employing an input-output analysis-based method within unplanned houses (n=250), which are classified into three categories, namely simple, medium and luxurious houses. The results showed that the average embodied energy of simple, medium and luxurious houses was 36.3, 130.0 and 367.7 GJ respectively. The cement consumed the largest energy and emitted the most CO2 emissions among all materials. The annual average operational energy of simple, medium and luxurious houses varied widely at 11.6, 17.4 and 32.1 GJ/year respectively. The energy consumption for cooking accounted for the largest percentage of operational energy. The profiles of life cycle CO2 emissions were similar with those of life cycle energy. The factors affecting embodied, operational and life cycle energy were also studied.

scholarly journals Environmental and Economic Analysis of Selected Pavement Preservation Treatments

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelvin Zulu ◽  
Rajendra P. Singh ◽  
Farai Ada Shaba
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Emission Inventory ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Pavement Preservation ◽  
Maintenance Service ◽  
The Cost

Pavements are one of the highest assets and represent massive investment. The need to design and provide a sustainable maintenance service is becoming a priority and this comes mutually with the intentions to reduce impacts caused by maintenance treatments to the environment. This paper through a case study presents a Life Cycle Cost and Assessment technique during a 30 year analysis period to measure the cost effectiveness, embodied energy and carbon emissions of selected preservation treatments. These treatments can either be applied separately or in combination during the preventive maintenance of road pavements. This study entails three life cycle phases of material extraction and production, transportation and construction of maintenance activities. Through a literature review, raw materials energy and emission inventory data was averaged followed by the analysis of the equipment involved by using the specific fuel consumption to calculate the energy and emissions spent by the machine and finally the selected treatment energy and emissions was computed. Results show that preservation treatments can have an LCC of 30-40 % and embodied energy and carbon emission of 3-6 times lower than the traditional approach. This study bridges gaps in literature on integrated evaluation of environmental and economic aspects of preservation treatments.

scholarly journals Multi-Criteria Analysis of a Developed Prefabricated Footing System on Reactive Soil Foundation

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (22) ◽  
pp. 7515
Author(s):  
Bertrand Teodosio ◽  
Francesco Bonacci ◽  
Seongwon Seo ◽  
Kasun Shanaka Kristombu Baduge ◽  
Priyan Mendis
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Structural Performance ◽  
Ghg Emission ◽  
Soil Movement ◽  
Multi Criteria Analysis ◽  
The Cost

The need for advancements in residential construction and the hazard induced by the shrink–swell reactive soil movement prompted the development of the prefabricated footing system of this study, which was assessed and compared to a conventional waffle raft using a multi-criteria analysis. The assessment evaluates the structural performance, cost efficiency, and sustainability using finite element modelling, life cycle cost analysis, and life cycle assessment, respectively. The structural performance of the developed prefabricated system was found to have reduced the deformation and cracking by approximately 40%. However, the cost, GHG emission, and embodied energy were higher in the prefabricated footing system due to the greater required amount of concrete and steel than that of the waffle raft. The cost difference between the two systems can be reduced to as low as 6% when prefabricated systems were installed in a highly reactive sites with large floor areas. The life cycle assessment further observed that the prefabricated footing systems consume up to 21% more energy and up to 18% more GHG emissions. These can significantly be compensated by reusing the developed prefabricated footing system, decreasing the GHG emission and energy consumption by 75–77% and 55–59% with respect to that of the waffle raft.

Research on Life Cycle Cost Model of Drainpipe Network

2012 ◽  
Vol 450-451 ◽  
pp. 320-324
Author(s):  
Gui Zhen Hao ◽  
Li Min Wang ◽  
Shu Na Wang
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Optimal Design ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Cost Model ◽  
Functional Relation ◽  
Life Cycle Management ◽  
Construction Cost ◽  
Burial Depth ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Total Life

The cost model for optimal design of drainpipe network was formed, according to the conception of total life cycle management,and the functional relation of drainpipe construction cost and tube diameter and burial depth was fitted, according to the quota of index of estimate,this made that it is possible to estimate total life cycle cost of drainpipe network accurately.

scholarly journals Embodied Energy and Cost Assessments of a Concentrating Photovoltaic Module

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 13916
Author(s):  
Daria Freier Raine ◽  
Firdaus Muhammad-Sukki ◽  
Roberto Ramirez-Iniguez ◽  
Jorge Alfredo Ardila-Rey ◽  
Tahseen Jafry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Photovoltaic Module ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Pv Module ◽  
Embodied Carbon ◽  
Electrical Output

This paper focuses on the embodied energy and cost assessments of a static concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) module in comparison to the flat photovoltaic (PV) module. The CPV module employs a specific concentrator design from the Genetically Optimised Circular Rotational Square Hyperboloid (GOCRSH) concentrators, labelled as GOCRSH_A. Firstly, it discussed previous research on life cycle analyses for PV and CPV modules. Next, it compared the energy embodied in the materials of the GOCRSH_A module to the energy embodied in the materials of a flat PV module of the same electrical output. Lastly, a comparison in terms of cost is presented between the analysed GOCRSH_A module and the flat PV module. It was found that the GOCRSH_A module showed a reduction in embodied energy of 17% which indicates a reduction in embodied carbon. In terms of cost, the costs for the GOCRSH_A module were calculated to be 1.71 times higher than the flat PV module of the same electrical output. It is concluded that a trade-off is required between the embodied energy and cost impacts in order to bring this CPV technology into the market.

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