Life Cycle Assessment of the Construction Process in a Mass Timber Structure

Hemmati, Mahboobeh; Messadi, Tahar; Gu, Hongmei

doi:10.3390/su16010262

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 34 publications

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“…In summary, the implementation of green building practices and the use of energy-saving equipment are crucial for reducing GHG emissions during the use of buildings through the optimization and upgrading of building technologies. However, if GHG emissions from materials, transportation, construction, and waste disposal can be estimated and optimized at the beginning of building projects, controlling and reducing the generation of "embodied carbon" will make a significant contribution to reducing GHG emissions from buildings [25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon Emissions Reduction of a Circular Architectural Practice: A Study on a Reversible Design Pavilion Using Recycled Materials

Zhu,

Liou,

Chen

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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The construction industry, as a major consumer of resources and energy, accounts for about 40% of global carbon emissions. The concept of a circular economy (CE) is one effective means to address this issue. The entire lifecycle of a building includes: material production, construction, operation, and demolition. The production of building materials emits the largest proportion of carbon dioxide, followed by the operational phase, while construction (including demolition) has the smallest proportion. However, it is crucial to note the waste phase after demolition, where building materials are typically disposed of through incineration or landfill, leading to significant carbon emissions and environmental degradation. Therefore, carbon emissions generated during both the production and waste phases of the construction industry cannot be overlooked. This article employs a combined approach of practice and research, using the Circular Pavilion as a case study. From the design stage, reducing resource usage and carbon emissions are considered crucial factors. Reversible design, modularity, and the use of recycled materials are employed to reduce the emissions of “embodied carbon” and enhance material reuse. To validate the effectiveness of recycled materials in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, this study calculates the material usage and carbon emissions during the production, transportation, and waste phases of the Circular Pavilion, Concrete Pavilion, and Steel Pavilion. The Circular Pavilion accounts for 34% and 3.5% of the total carbon emissions of the Concrete Pavilion and Steel Pavilion, respectively. In conclusion, the practical implementation of reversible design and recycled materials based on the concept of a circular economy is key to transitioning the construction industry from environmentally harmful impacts to eco-friendly practices. This establishes an effective method for resource reuse and carbon dioxide reduction in the construction sector, allowing waste resources to re-enter production and manufacturing processes, thereby reducing natural extraction, waste disposal, and energy consumption. Future applications of this method in the construction field involve establishing multidimensional composite design models and conducting feasibility assessments with upstream and downstream supply chains to support the realization of circular cities.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon Emissions Reduction of a Circular Architectural Practice: A Study on a Reversible Design Pavilion Using Recycled Materials

Zhu,

Liou,

Chen

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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A Design Methodology Incorporating a Sound Insulation Prediction Model, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and Thermal Insulation: A Comparative Study of Various Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and Ribbed CLT-Based Floor Assemblies

Bader Eddin,

Ménard,

Laratte

et al. 2024

Acoustics

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Mass timber is increasingly being employed in constructing low- and mid-rise buildings. One of the primary reasons for using mass timber structures is their sustainability and ability to reduce environmental consequences in the building sector. One criticism of these structures is their lower subjective sound insulation quality. Therefore, acoustic treatments should be considered. However, acoustic solutions do not necessarily contribute to lower environmental impacts or improved thermal insulation performance. This paper discusses a design methodology that incorporates the development of a sound insulation prediction tool (using an artificial neural networks approach), life cycle assessment analysis, and thermal insulation study. A total of 112 sound insulation measurements (in one-third octave bands from 50 to 5000 Hz) are utilized to develop the network model and are also used for the LCA and thermal insulation study. They are lab-based measurements and are performed on 45 various CLT- and ribbed CLT-based assemblies. The acoustic model demonstrates satisfactory results with 1 dB differences in the prediction of airborne and impact sound indices (Rw and Ln,w). An acoustic sensitivity study and a statistical analysis are then conducted to validate the model’s results. Additionally, an LCA analysis is performed on the floor assemblies to calculate their environmental footprints. LCA categories are plotted against the acoustic performance of floors. No correlations are found, and the results emphasize that a wide range of sound insulation can be achieved with similar environmental impacts. Within each acoustic performance tier, the LCA results can be optimized for a floor assembly by selecting appropriate materials. The thermal insulation of floors is then calculated. Overall, a strong positive correlation is found between the total thermal resistance and heat loss against acoustic performance. Designers should be cognizant of the trade-offs between acoustic, thermal insulation, and environmental performance when choosing assemblies with favorable environmental impacts relative to acoustic and thermal insulation ratios.

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Comparison of Embodied Carbon Footprint of a Mass Timber Building Structure with a Steel Equivalent

Hemmati,

Messadi,

et al. 2024

Buildings

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The main purpose of this study is to quantify and compare the embodied carbon (EC) from the materials used or designed to build the Adohi Hall, a residence building located on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, AR. It has been constructed as a mass timber structure. It is compared to the same building design with a steel frame for this study. Based on the defined goal and scope of the project, all materials used in the building structure are compared for their global warming potential (GWP) impact by applying a life cycle assessment (LCA) using a cradle-to-construction site system boundary. This comparative building LCA comprises the product stage (including raw material extraction, processing, transporting, and manufacturing) plus transportation to the construction site (nodule A1–A4, according to standard EN 15804 definitions). In this study, GWP is primarily assessed with the exclusion of other environmental factors. Tally®, as one of the most popular LCA tools for buildings, is used in this comparative LCA analysis. In this study, the substitution of mass timber for a steel structure with a corrugated steel deck and concrete topping offers a promising opportunity to understand the GWP impact of each structure. Mass timber structures exhibit superior environmental attributes considering the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq). Emissions per square meter of gross floor area for mass timber stand at 198 kg, in stark contrast to the 243 kg CO2 eq recorded for steel structures. This means the mass timber building achieved a 19% reduction in carbon emissions compared to the functional equivalent steel structure within the building modules A1 to A4 studied. When considering carbon storage, about 2757 tonnes of CO2 eq are stored in the mass timber building, presenting further benefits of carbon emission delays for the life span of the structure. The substitution benefit from this construction case was studied through the displacement factor (DF) quantification following the standard process. A 0.28 DF was obtained when using mass timber over steel in the structure. This study provides insights into making more environmentally efficient decisions in buildings and helps in the move forward to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and address GWP mitigation.

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Life Cycle Assessment of the Construction Process in a Mass Timber Structure

Cited by 4 publications

References 34 publications

Carbon Emissions Reduction of a Circular Architectural Practice: A Study on a Reversible Design Pavilion Using Recycled Materials

Carbon Emissions Reduction of a Circular Architectural Practice: A Study on a Reversible Design Pavilion Using Recycled Materials

A Design Methodology Incorporating a Sound Insulation Prediction Model, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and Thermal Insulation: A Comparative Study of Various Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and Ribbed CLT-Based Floor Assemblies

Comparison of Embodied Carbon Footprint of a Mass Timber Building Structure with a Steel Equivalent

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