Carbon dioxide reduction in the building life cycle: a critical review

Abstract

The construction industry is known to be a major contributor to environmental pressures due to its high energy consumption and carbon dioxide generation. The growing amount of carbon dioxide emissions over buildings' life cycles has prompted academics and professionals to initiate various studies relating to this problem. Researchers have been exploring carbon dioxide reduction methods for each phase of the building life cycle – from planning and design, materials production, materials distribution and construction process, maintenance and renovation, deconstruction and disposal, to the material reuse and recycle phase. This paper aims to present the state of the art in carbon dioxide reduction studies relating to the construction industry. Studies of carbon dioxide reduction throughout the building life cycle are reviewed and discussed, including those relating to green building design, innovative low carbon dioxide materials, green construction methods, energy efficiency schemes, life cycle energy analysis, construction waste management, reuse and recycling of materials and the cradle-to-cradle concept. The review provides building practitioners and researchers with a better understanding of carbon dioxide reduction potential and approaches worldwide. Opportunities for carbon dioxide reduction can thereby be maximised over the building life cycle by creating environmentally benign designs and using low carbon dioxide materials.

Green supply chain management: an empirical investigation on the construction sector

“…As highlighted by Zhang et al (2011), the process should start with an environmental impact assessment of the design to understand any potential effects on the surrounding flora and fauna of the building. Similarly, designers should consider the climate conditions, building structure and shape, and its thermal characteristics (Ng et al, 2012). For example, the provision of natural ventilation and lighting can cut down electricity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 y C h a i n M a n a g e m e n t : a n I n t e r n a t i o n a l J o u 6 consumption.…”

“…Similarly, integrating the right technological systems within the building design, such as the use of solar panels, energy efficient heating, lighting and air-conditioning systems, and wastewater recycling technologies, are essential for improving the environmental performance of the building (Zhang et al, 2011). Furthermore, the right choice of materials and components will minimize the negative impacts during construction (e.g., the provision for pre-fabricated components improves constructability and reduces onsite waste) and during end-of-life demolition (as more components and materials can be recovered), in addition to reducing the embodied energy and harmful effects associated with the building (Ng et al, 2012). Developers and Architects/Consultants are the relevant stakeholders involved in green building design.…”

“…• End-of-life management: Carefully-planned and energy-efficient execution of demolition activities is required to maximize the recovery and recyclability of materials (Ng et al, 2012). It is of paramount importance to reduce the environmental burden associated with materials embodied in the building (Thormark, 2002).…”

Life-cycle impact ‘cradle to cradle’ of building assemblies

“…Ecoindicator 99, with unit given as points); a single issue indicator (e.g. global warming potential that has increasing importance over buildings' life cycles (Ng et al, 2012b), corresponding to the carbon footprint with kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (kg CO 2 eq) as its reference unit); a 'prevention-based' indicator (e.g. eco-costs 2007, with an economic unit, the euro).…”

Editorial

“…The importance of time as a dimension of sustainability is brought out in this issue by Ng et al (2012) in their review of methods available internationally for full life-cycle assessment of buildings, from planning and design through to dismantling and disposal. Time was also a theme within the March issue of the journal with papers examining whether a particular development can be 'proofed' against a range of very different potential futures.…”