Evaluation of Structures Design Concept of Lower Structure from Embodied Energy and Emissions

Abstract

Amount of material and energy sources and the associated environmental pollution is limited over the world. These issues lead to increasing interest in comparing the embodied energy and environmental impacts of buildings using different structure systems and alternative building materials. Buildings play significant role in energy consumption and emission production through all phases of life cycle.
Over the last decade, the development towards sustainability has become important issue in building design decisions. The relative contribution of embodied impacts of building materials and structures has been recognized as being significant, especially for high energy effective buildings. Life cycle assessment (LCA) belongs to broadly used methodology which helps to make decisions in sustainable building design. The lower structure of buildings has by far the most significant contribution of embodied impacts associated with the construction phase. The goal of this paper is to assess alternative material solutions of lower structure to support decision at the design phase of project. The solutions are towards reduced embodied environmental impacts and improved energy performance. This study uses life cycle analysis in system boundary from Cradle to Gate and focuses on environmental indicators such as embodied energy and emissions of CO_2eq. and SO_2eq. The selection and combination of materials influence amount of energy consumption and associated production of emissions during building operation. Therefore this study also calculates thermal-physical parameters. Methods of multi-criteria decision analysis (MDCA) are used for the interpretation of results.