Quantification of uncertainty in product stage embodied carbon calculations for buildings

Marsh, Ellen; Orr, John; Ibell, Tim

doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111340

Cited by 28 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…For example, although Ekincioglu et al. (2013) and Marsh et al. (2021) performed building energy estimation, they only aimed at specific materials such as cement.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling and quantitation of embodied, operational and mobile energies of buildings: a holistic review from 2012 to 2021

Tam

Liu

Lê

2022

ECAM

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PurposeThis paper proposes an intact framework for building life cycle energy estimation (LCEE), which includes three major energy sources: embodied, operational and mobile.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review is conducted to summarize the selected 109 studies published during 2012–2021 related to quantifying building energy consumption and its major estimation methodologies, tools and key influence parameters of three energy sources.FindingsResults show that the method limitations and the variety of potential parameters lead to significant energy estimation errors. An in-depth qualitative discussion is conducted to identify research knowledge gaps and future directions.Originality/valueWith societies and economies developing rapidly across the world, a large amount of energy is consumed at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, its huge environmental impacts have forced many countries to take energy issues as urgent social problems to be solved. Even though the construction industry, as the one of most important carbon contributors, has been constantly and academically active, researchers still have not arrived at a clear consensus for system boundaries of life cycle energy. Besides, there is a significant difference between the actual and estimated values in countless current and advanced energy estimation approaches in the literature.

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“…For example, although Ekincioglu et al. (2013) and Marsh et al. (2021) performed building energy estimation, they only aimed at specific materials such as cement.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling and quantitation of embodied, operational and mobile energies of buildings: a holistic review from 2012 to 2021

Tam

Liu

Lê

2022

ECAM

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“…Understanding the EC within these stages is crucial in comprehending the total environmental impact generated by the concrete mixtures and steel used in the construction process. This consideration aids in making informed decisions regarding material selection, optimizing manufacturing processes, and implementing measures to reduce the overall environmental footprint of construction projects [57,66,67].…”

Section: Effect Of Embodied Carbon On Fcmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing Concrete Grade for a Sustainable Structural Design in Saudi Arabia

Almulhim,

Al Masmoum

2024

Buildings

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Buildings and facilities undergo several stages: the product stage, the construction stage, the use stage, the end-of-life stage, and the recycling stage. The life cycle of any facility or building contributes to embodied carbon (EC) emissions. The product stage, also known as the cradle-to-gate stage (A1–A3), registers the highest emissions, estimated to account for 70% of the total environmental impact. The continuing population growth in Saudi Arabia necessitates urgent action to identify and implement solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating environmental risks. This study investigates the optimal method to analyze the grade of concrete for specific structural elements (columns) in a particular work area, adhering to accurate and methodological standards outlined in the Saudi Building Code (SBC). The bill of quantities (BOQ) determined the amount of building materials for the structure considered in this study. Reliable embedded carbon coefficients (ECCs) for structural materials such as concrete and steel were determined following life cycle assessment principles. They were analyzed using the Inventory of Carbon and Energy (ICE; Version 2.0) and Global Warming Potential (GWP). The obtained values varied based on the components of each mixture. This study determined the cost of each concrete mixture and steel, selecting the optimal mixture based on both EC and material cost. Since the quantity of cement significantly affects EC emissions in a concrete mixture, it is essential to select appropriate plasticizers and concrete types. This study evaluated the C30, C40, C50, C60, and C70 mixtures. Among these, the C70 mixture demonstrated the best environmental impact and was the least expensive compared to the basic C40 mixture for the estimated quantities of concrete and steel. The estimated reductions in cost and environmental impact were 33% and 27%, respectively. This groundbreaking study paves the way for low-carbon structural design in large hotels across Saudi Arabia, offering valuable insights for future projects and contributing significantly to energy conservation.

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“…In practice, design variables, including but not limited to geometry [3], thermal conductivity [4,5], energy efficiency of HVAC and renewable energy systems [6], constitute the design space. Corresponding performance space consists of quantitative requirements and qualitative requirements depending on the targets and preference of stakeholders, such as Green House Gas emission [7], life cycle cost [8], aesthetics [9] and spatial experience. Based on the consensus that the earlier a decision is IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1078/1/012039 2 made, the higher potential of influence a decision has on the final building performance and costs [10], DSE for the early building design is a key step to achieve the final targets.…”

Section: Needs For Design Space Exploration In the Early Building Des...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Suggestions for solution space exploration in the early stage of architectural design based on a literature review

Yang

2022

IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci.

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Early design decisions have higher potential to influence building performance compared with the decisions made at later design stages. Performance simulation and optimization algorithms have been integrated to assist early design in reducing carbon emissions, improving indoor thermal comfort, etc. However, early decision making within a limited time frame is still challenging due to the large number of design options, the lack of decision-making guidance, and the trade-offs among various requirements. Selecting appropriate methods to explore design space is the key to find an ideal solution. This paper reviewed the challenges and identified the key questions to access the ability of existing decision-making methods to cope with different challenges. It is concluded that the interactive exploration of design space could be more effective and efficient by (1) combining the surrogate models and the automated optimization algorithms to improve the efficiency of the building performance calculation and the optimal design space position; and by (2) extending the optimal design space to increase the solution diversity, and (3) filtering the near optimal design space with consideration of the stakeholders’ preferences and values. Further integration of tools for building performance simulation, diversity description and decision-making guidance is needed to support the decision -making process.

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Quantification of uncertainty in product stage embodied carbon calculations for buildings

Cited by 28 publications

References 17 publications

Modelling and quantitation of embodied, operational and mobile energies of buildings: a holistic review from 2012 to 2021

Modelling and quantitation of embodied, operational and mobile energies of buildings: a holistic review from 2012 to 2021

Optimizing Concrete Grade for a Sustainable Structural Design in Saudi Arabia

Suggestions for solution space exploration in the early stage of architectural design based on a literature review

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