Search Results (26)

The construction industry plays a significant role in global warming, accounting for 42% of primary energy use and 39% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has emerged as a key methodology for evaluating environmental impacts throughout a building’s life cycle, yet its integration in the early design phase remains limited. This review aims to examine strategies and tools for incorporating LCA in the early design phase to enhance sustainability in building construction. The objectives of this study are: (1) to identify the main challenges in integrating LCA into early design workflows, (2) to analyze and compare LCA tools suitable for early-stage assessments, and (3) to explore emerging trends and technological advancements. A systematic literature review was employed using the Scopus database to analyze existing literature, identifying current practices, challenges, and technological advancements in early-stage LCA implementation. A total of 56 studies were identified for the review. The results highlight the growing adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and parametric modeling in streamlining LCA integration. Despite these advancements, barriers such as data scarcity, lack of standardization, and interoperability issues persist. Key findings suggest that simplified and computational LCA tools can improve accessibility and real-time decision-making during early-stage design. The study concludes that enhancing data availability, refining methodologies, and fostering collaboration between architects, engineers, and policymakers are crucial for mainstreaming LCA in sustainable building design. This review provides actionable insights to bridge the gap between sustainability goals and early-stage design decisions and framework, ultimately supporting a more environmentally responsible construction industry. Full article

The construction industry, which is responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, is facing increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. Traditional construction methods often escalate resource depletion and waste generation, highlighting the need to prioritize sustainability. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a significant tool for evaluating the environmental impacts of materials across different life cycle stages, yet its application is hindered by data complexities and uncertainties, particularly during the early design phases. Building Information Modeling (BIM) offers a transformative solution by centralizing and automating multidisciplinary data, thus streamlining LCA processes. This study addresses those existing gaps by proposing a structured methodology that integrates BIM with LCA to enhance their applicability during early design. The model leverages BIM’s capabilities to automate data extraction and enable real-time impact assessments by providing precise environmental evaluations of different construction methods. Focusing on modular prefabrication, 3D concrete printing, and conventional construction, this model comparatively evaluates environmental performance across different life cycle phases, highlighting distinct strengths and improvement areas. The Whole Building LCA reveals clear environmental differences, emphasizing modular construction’s substantial opportunities for enhancement to reduce critical impacts such as climate change and fossil depletion. This model supports decision-making, promotes circular economy principles, and aids the construction industry’s transition toward more sustainable practices. Full article

The global adoption of battery electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) as a substitute for internal combustion engine cars (ICEs) in various nations offers a substantial opportunity to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from land transportation. EVs are fitted with an energy conversion system that efficiently converts stored energy into propulsion, referred to as “tank-to-wheel (TTW) conversion”. Battery-electric vehicles have a significant advantage in that their exhaust system does not produce any pollutants. This hypothesis is equally relevant to public transport. Despite their higher upfront cost, electric buses contribute significantly to environmental sustainability during their operation. This study aimed to evaluate the environmental sustainability of electric buses during their operational phase by utilizing the life cycle assessment (LCA) technique. This paper used the MATLAB R2021b code to ascertain the mean load of the buses during their operation. The energy consumption of battery electric and hybrid electric buses was evaluated using the WLTP Class 2 standard, which refers to vehicles with a power-to-mass ratio between 22 and 34 W/kg, overing four speed phases (low, medium, high, extra high) with speeds up to 131.3 km/h. The code was used to calculate the energy consumption levels for the complete test cycle. The code adopts an idealized rectangular blind box model, disregarding the intricate design of contemporary buses to streamline the computational procedure. Simulating realistic test periods of 1800 s resulted in an average consumption of 1.451 kWh per km for electric buses and an average of 25.3 L per 100 km for hybrid buses. Finally, through an examination of the structure of the Hungarian power system utilization, it was demonstrated that electrification is a more appropriate method for achieving the emission reduction goals during the utilization phase. Full article

The decarbonization of the building sector is essential to mitigate climate change, aligning with the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the transition from near-Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEBs) to Zero-Emission Buildings (ZEBs). This study introduces a novel and streamlined Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, in accordance with EN 15978, to holistically evaluate the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of buildings. Our approach integrates a calibrated dynamic simulation of operational energy use, performed with DesignBuilder, to determine precise operational CO₂ emissions. This is combined with a comprehensive assessment of embodied emissions, encompassing construction materials and transportation phases, using detailed Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Applied to the IndUVa nZEB case study, the findings reveal that embodied emissions dominate the life cycle GWP, accounting for 69%, while operational emissions contribute just 31% over 50 years. The building’s use of 63.8% recycled materials highlights the transformative role of circular economy strategies in reducing embodied impacts. A comparative analysis of three energy-efficiency scenarios demonstrates the IndUVa building’s exceptional performance, achieving energy demand reductions of 78.4% and 85.6% compared to the ASHRAE and CTE benchmarks, respectively. This study underscores the growing significance of embodied emissions as operational energy demand declines. Achieving ZEBs requires prioritizing embodied carbon reduction through sustainable material selection, recycling, and reuse, targeting a minimum of 70% recycled content. By advancing the LCA framework, this study presents a pathway for achieving ZEBs, driving a substantial reduction in global energy consumption and carbon emissions, and contributing to climate change mitigation. Full article

Transformers in the distribution network must have their carbon emissions analyzed in order to meet the “double carbon” goal. Using an oil-immersed distribution transformer as the research object, this paper develops a “cradle-to-grave” carbon accounting model. A life cycle assessment (LCA)-based methodology is proposed to account for carbon emissions and total energy demand over the full life cycle and further analyze the carbon emissions within each stage. A case study is presented using data from a 200 kVA transformer manufactured by a transformer plant in Xinjiang. According to the data, there are 112.18 t of carbon emissions and 798.21 GJ of total energy consumed. Distribution network transformers have carbon emissions of 282 kg, 782 kg, 122.96 kg, 11,079.64 kg, and −88.6 kg throughout the manufacture and manufacturing stage, transportation stage, construction and installation stage, operation stage, and waste recycling stage, respectively. There are 4.12 GJ, 9.06 GJ, 1.34 GJ, 785.97 GJ, and −0.28 GJ in total energy requirements. According to the study, which covered 99.03% of the entire life cycle, the operation stage had the largest percentage of carbon emissions. In addition to streamlining the production process and using more energy-efficient equipment, the waste recovery stage successfully decreased the environmental impact of carbon emissions. Sensitivity analysis shows that the silicon steel sheet and transformer oil has a significant impact on the carbon emissions of distribution network transformers during the life cycle, and the higher the grade of silicon steel sheet, the lower the carbon emissions, and the synthetic ester transformer oil has the most comprehensive performance and the lowest carbon emissions. Full article

To enhance the sustainability of construction and meet the sector’s environmental agenda, it is essential to comprehensively scrutinize the environmental, social, and economic impacts of construction projects from the project’s design stage. Such assessment is of utmost importance to minimize the impacts of both new construction and rehabilitation projects and is particularly critical during the selection of building materials and construction solutions. This work reports improvements in functionality and user-friendliness of an eco-design tool (UAveiroGreenBuilding) targeting the construction/rehabilitation sector and previously developed within our research group. The optimized version of the eco-design tool underwent validation through the assessment of competitive window frame materials (e.g., wood, PVC, and aluminum) for potential implementation in a rehabilitation project. Windows with PVC frames were identified as the preferred window configuration due to their superior environmental performance and favorable economic profile. Additionally, a digital communication interface was developed to connect the eco-design tool with building information modeling (BIM) projects, achieved through a routine integrated using a Dynamo application. Such successful integration not only streamlined and expedited the data transfer process by obviating the need for manual input but it also enabled the storage of environmental data throughout the life cycle of the project using a simple and reliable data storage protocol. Full article

This study proposes an improved methodology based on life cycle assessment (LCA), which is used to calculate the carbon footprint of agriculture, provides a simple and feasible calculation path, and constructs a streamlined framework for calculating the carbon footprint based on the agricultural traceability system records. Using important economic crop (Onion) as research subject, and choose the largest planting area in R.O.C. (southern Taiwan) as a case study. A total of 64 farm production history records have been collected, includes all of farms certified with a traceable agricultural products (TAP) label. Through a detailed analysis of the traditional carbon footprint calculation method, found that agricultural traceability system records could replace the data source in carbon footprint verification (CFV) process, and system records could be used as activity data after being organized. With our method, no need to go through a complicated CFV process, just download the existing data on agricultural traceability system, can start calculating carbon footprint as soon as possible. To compared to traditional assessment method, results show a margin of error is less than 6% compared to traditional assessment methods. Advantages of improved method were be found, such as easy data acquisition, simplified calculation steps, and improved data transparency and accuracy. From statistical data, show that at least seven categories of carbon emission sources for carbon footprints, the most significant of carbon emission impact are fertilizers. The result of improved methodology based on life cycle assessment (LCA), show that using the improved methods can help promote the carbon footprint management efficiency of agricultural organizations such as Farmers’ Association or Agricultural Production Marketing Group, promptly monitor the carbon footprint status of their fields and adjust strategies to reduce carbon footprints in real-time, advancing towards the goal of net-zero carbon emissions. Full article

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has shown remarkable potential to revolutionise healthcare by enhancing diagnostics, improving treatment outcomes, and streamlining administrative processes. In the global regulatory landscape, several countries are working on regulating AI in healthcare. There are five key regulatory issues that need to be addressed: (i) data security and protection—measures to cover the “digital health footprints” left unknowingly by patients when they access AI in health services; (ii) data quality—availability of safe and secure data and more open database sources for AI, algorithms, and datasets to ensure equity and prevent demographic bias; (iii) validation of algorithms—mapping of the explainability and causability of the AI system; (iv) accountability—whether this lies with the healthcare professional, healthcare organisation, or the personified AI algorithm; (v) ethics and equitable access—whether fundamental rights of people are met in an ethical manner. Policymakers may need to consider the entire life cycle of AI in healthcare services and the databases that were used for the training of the AI system, along with requirements for their risk assessments to be publicly accessible for effective regulatory oversight. AI services that enhance their functionality over time need to undergo repeated algorithmic impact assessment and must also demonstrate real-time performance. Harmonising regulatory frameworks at the international level would help to resolve cross-border issues of AI in healthcare services. Full article

Increasing efforts have been devoted to promoting sustainable demolition waste management (DWM) from a life cycle thinking perspective. To this end, facilitating sustainability-oriented decision-making for DWM planning requires a sustainability assessment framework for assessing the trade-offs among multifaceted criteria. This study develops a BIM-based DWM sustainability assessment approach to facilitate the life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) and decision-making by integrating LCSA-related properties and hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Aiding (MCDA) methods into a BIM environment using Dynamo visual scripting. A dynamic linkage is developed in the streamlined BIM-based LCSA process, where the enriched Industry Foundation Class (IFC) models are coupled with custom LCSA data templates to achieve seamless data exchange between the BIM platform and external LCA tools. Subsequently, hybrid MCDA methods convert the assessment results into DWM scenario ranking. A pilot study verifies the applicability of the BIM-based framework. The results unveil that the sustainability score ascended with the recycling rate. The optimal DWM alternative with the highest recycling rate yields the highest sustainability score at 91.63. Conversely, a DWM alternative reflecting the ‘status quo’ in China’s recycling industry has the lowest score at 8.37, significantly lower than the baseline scenario with a 50% recycling rate. It is worth noting that the ‘growth curve’ of the sustainability score continuously flattens as the target recycling rate escalates. The increment in recycling rate from the “Australian standard” scenario to the optimal scenario is 18.4%, whereas the sustainability score merely increases by 2.3%, implying that the former scenario arrived at an optimum point for maximising the cost-efficiency of DWM under the predefined settings. Full article

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in addressing human-induced impacts on the environment, with a particular focus on transitioning to sustainability and achieving carbon neutrality. However, the current implementation of Whole Life Carbon (WLC) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in the construction sector in the Czech Republic is hindered by several challenges. These include gaps in stakeholders’ knowledge, limited availability of LCA data on construction products and buildings, insufficient market incentives, and low institutional capacity. This study, conducted as part of the INDICATE project, aims to streamline the process of WLC calculation and establish a consistent national assessment method specific to the Czech context. The project encompasses various phases, i.e., a case study collection of office, multi-family, single-family, education, and logistic hall buildings, followed by the development of a comprehensive unified materials database, classification of building parts and uniform work with the bill of quantities, stakeholder engagement, an LCA of case studies with a sensitivity analysis, and WLC policy suggestions, including the quality of the project data, simplifications, and a benchmarks definition. The Global Warming Potential (GWP) is calculated throughout the entire life cycle of each considered building, utilizing the EU Level(s) methodology incorporated in the OneClick LCA software. By adhering to these newly developed methodological steps, benchmarks for multi-residential buildings are shown. The same methodology could be replicated by stakeholders in other countries to enhance their evaluation processes and ensure consistent results across their projects. Full article

In the high-energy, high-carbon landscape of the construction industry, a detailed and precise life cycle assessment (LCA) is essential. This review examines the role of building information modeling (BIM) software in streamlining the LCA process to enhance efficiency and accuracy. Despite its potential, challenges such as software interoperability and compatibility persist, with no unified standard for choosing BIM-integrated LCA software. Besides, the review explores the capabilities and limitations of various BIM software, LCA tools, and energy consumption tools, and presents characteristics of BIM-LCA integration cases. It critically discusses BIM-LCA integration methods and data exchange techniques, including bill of quantities import, Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) import, BIM viewer usage, direct LCA calculations with BIM plugins, and LCA plugin calculations. Finally, concluding with future perspectives, the study aims to guide the development of advanced LCA tools for better integration with BIM software, addressing a vital need in sustainable construction practices. Full article

Construction 4.0 is a platform that combines digital and physical technologies to enhance the design and construction of the built environment. Bridge Information Modeling (BrIM), a component of Construction 4.0′s digital technologies, streamlines construction processes and promotes collaboration among project stakeholders. In this study, a comprehensive literature review and bibliometric and content analysis are conducted on building information modeling (BIM), life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle cost (LCC), BrIM, and Bridge LCA. This study investigates the potential integration of BrIM, LCA, and LCC as inputs for bridges’ LCA to enhance decision making by providing designers with detailed and interactive cost and environmental information throughout an asset’s lifecycle and explores the functionalities of Construction 4.0 and its potential influence on the economy and sustainability of bridge projects. The reviewed literature showed that the tools currently used to apply LCA and LCC methods for infrastructure assets lack the ability to identify possible integration with BrIM and hold limitations in their key functions for identifying the utmost features that need to be adopted in the creation of any tool to increase the general resilience of bridges and infrastructure. Full article

Fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP) have been presented as materials that possess properties that are comparable to conventional building materials, while also being more sustainable. This study describes the material and its properties and compares the materials using a life-cycle assessment (LCA) modelling approach. The objective of this paper is to perform a cradle-to-grave (from resource extraction to the disposal stage) analysis of pultruded FRP material and compare it to conventional building materials used in a typical dwelling. This analysis was conducted in accordance with LCA standard EN15978. A streamlined LCA was conducted, whereby the major impacts observed included the global warming potential in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent and the embodied energy in megajoule net calorific value. The products compared with the FRP profiles were the most commonly used materials in a residential dwelling; bricks and timber. The results of the LCA modelling provided a comparative assertion of the FRPs to conventional materials by demonstrating that they perform better than double-brick dwellings and external timber framed walls in both environmental impact categories of global warming potential and embodied energy. The results shows that the FRP-walled house had the lowest emissions of carbon dioxide equivalent, which was around 17% lower than that of the double-brick wall and 1.46% less than that of the timber wall house. Full article

The black soldier fly (BSF) is recognised as a valuable insect for mitigating feed and organic waste management challenges. Thus, concerted efforts are being directed toward the promotion of the BSF. Despite the numerous advantages of BSF larvae, there are several critical environmental aspects, particularly its global warming potential, that need to be considered before large-scale adoption due to the complexity of the insect’s value chain. The direct assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia emissions from BSF larvae biotreatment is crucial for conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the insect products’ environmental performance. This article reviews the emissions of GHG from BSF larvae bioconversion activities based on different gas sensing techniques while highlighting the factors that influence these emissions. Generally, low gas emissions were reported. However, the influence of various factors influencing emissions remains unclear, especially for nitrous oxide. We also analysed LCA studies on BSFL products while emphasising the uncertainties and variabilities among the studies. The wide variation of impact scores reported in the studies suggests that standardised guidelines should be developed to streamline methodical approaches for impact assessments pertaining to system boundaries, functional units, allocation, and system expansion assumptions. We identified several aspects for future improvements to harmonise studies in order to enhance the comparative assessment of the BSFL products. Full article

This study aimed to analyze the major building materials in terms of environmental impact evaluation of school buildings in South Korea. Three existing school buildings were selected as the analysis targets, and building materials were analyzed in terms of cumulative weight and six environmental impact categories (global warming potential, abiotic depletion potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, ozone-layer depletion potential, and photochemical oxidation potential). The materials were analyzed from an environmental perspective after integrating the six environmental impact categories into the environmental costs. From the analysis, nine major building materials, including ready-mixed concrete, concrete bricks, aggregate, rebar, cement, stone, glass, insulating materials, and wood, were selected for the school buildings. These analysis results can be used as a streamlined evaluation of the environmental impacts of school buildings. It is thought that the simplified life cycle assessment will help make decisions considering environmental characteristics in the early stage of the construction project. Additionally, it will be possible to make LCA efficient in terms of time and cost, one of the largest constraints of the existing building LCA, and effective reduction in the environmental load. Full article