Abstract
The construction sector contributes significantly to the production of greenhouse gases and thus to climate change. This study aims to quantify the environmental performance of selected bearing constructions with special regard to their climate change contribution and resource depletion. Environmental impacts were assessed using environmental indicators, such as global warming potential and abiotic, water and natural resource depletion. The material composition of the wall structures consisted of aerated concrete blocks, ranging from 300 to 375 mm, with different thermal-insulation materials (expanded polystyrene with graphite, and rock wool) and variable interior and exterior plaster. The evaluation was based on life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology within the ‘‘cradle to gate” boundaries. The calculated values of global warming potentials per square metre of wall construction ranged from 234.16 to 283.46 kg CO2 eq for the 20-year time span, from 213.02 to 255.20 kg CO2 eq for the 100-year time span and from 190.40 to 229.90 kg CO2 eq for the 500-year time span. The average water consumption was identified as 3.97 m3, and the abiotic depletion was identified as 1.41 kg Sbeq per square metre of the wall structure. The lowest environmental impact in all environmental categories evaluated was found for a structure with aerated concrete with a thickness of 300 mm with graphite polystyrene thermal insulation and with silicone outdoor plaster. Using a suitable material composition of the wall structure, up to a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved while maintaining the same thermal parameters of the structure.
Highlights
Unprecedented modernisation characterised by population explosion, urbanisation and economic development is a major contributor to environmental pollution and resource depletion [1, 2]
This study aims to quantify the environmental performance of selected bearing constructions with special regard to their climate change contribution and resource depletion
Using a suitable material composition of the wall structure, up to a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved while maintaining the same thermal parameters of the structure
Summary
Unprecedented modernisation characterised by population explosion, urbanisation and economic development is a major contributor to environmental pollution and resource depletion [1, 2]. One of the major challenges facing humanity in this century is climate change, which has significant global consequences for individual aspects, such as human health, the environment and the economy. These consequences are manifested in the form of elevated temperature and in the form of storms, cyclones and hurricanes, which are caused by stronger precipitation and rising sea level [3, 4]. In OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries, the construction sector utilises processes, such as the extraction of raw materials and transportation between all stages that consume from 25 to 45% of the total energy used [9]. The construction sector is responsible for 40% of global energy consumption, according to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report [10]
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