Challenges in life cycle assessment implementation for construction environmental product declaration development: A mixed approach and global perspective

The specification of Global Warming Potential (GWP) targets for low-carbon concrete is essential to guide decarbonization efforts for the built environment. Yet specifying GWP targets by multi-state regions reduces the granularity needed to define GWP targets locally. To probe this paradigm, we analyze 39,536 Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and show that 85.3% highly correlate with the 50 most populous U.S. metros. Our results demonstrate that low-carbon concrete specification targets can only be met in metropolitan areas with sufficient GWP data, such as New York City and Los Angeles, which account for 41% of EPDs and, hence, skew regional GWPs – preventing equitable and attainable low-carbon concrete specifications. The use of supplementary cementitious materials remains a pathway to reduce GWP. Additionally, local differences in transportation and manufacturing reveal new avenues to achieve low-carbon targets. These findings evince the need for concrete GWP specifications at the metropolitan level to meet national decarbonization goals.

show abstract

A Case Study on Sustainable Technologies in Residential Buildings from a Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCC) Perspective

Vitkova,

Vitasek

2024

Sustainability

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The article mostly addresses the application of sustainable technologies in residential construction through life cycle cost analysis (LCC) using the net present value (NPV) calculation method. The authors rely on data obtained through their own research and information received from the market environment. The article outputs are in the form of conclusions based on a case study on a specific building (apartment building), elaborated in several versions with respect to the technologies used. In total, there are seven alternative versions divided into two groups, where a so-called reference technology representing a traditional (standard) technical solution is present in each group so that a relevant comparison can be made. The first group includes technologies related to heating and hot water, while the second group focuses on the application of recycled water (so-called grey water). The outputs obtained provide an interesting and fact-based view of sustainable technologies within the life cycle of a building drawing from currently available information sources. At the same time, the presented analysis has incorporated price predictions for key commodities, i.e., electricity, water, gas. The article’s specific conclusions indicate that the technologies utilizing renewable energy sources (RES) are typically less economically advantageous (in the absence of subsidy sources) compared to conventional (traditional) solutions, despite the significant savings in operating costs. The LCC indicator revealed a cost value per square meter of gross floor area (GFA) for a residential building ranging from EUR 43 to 68, contingent on the specific option under consideration. This cost value was determined over a 20-year follow-up period and a real discount rate of 4%.

show abstract

Challenges in life cycle assessment implementation for construction environmental product declaration development: A mixed approach and global perspective

Cited by 3 publications

References 109 publications

How much carbon can shrubs store? Measurements and analyses from Finland

How much carbon can shrubs store? Measurements and analyses from Finland

Disparities in Low-Carbon Concrete GWP at the metropolitan level in the United States

A Case Study on Sustainable Technologies in Residential Buildings from a Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCC) Perspective

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About