Framework for Evaluating Co2 Emissions of Buildings within Singapore's Building Sector: A Review Article

Abstract

Carbon dioxide emitted from the building industry contributes significantly to anthropogenic greenhouse gases emissions. No consensus on the magnitude of building-related CO2 emissions, however, was reached in the literature. This research aims to develop a Carbon Database Management System for evaluating carbon emissions of buildings in Singapore. This study presents a comprehensive literature survey pertinent to building-related carbon emissions. The findings show that different CO2 estimation approaches, variance in the definition of system boundaries, and variance in the use of functional units are instrumental in explaining the disagreement of CO2 estimation results. A conceptual framework for predicting the environmental performance (carbon index) and the economic performance (carbon tender price index) for new construction is then presented. The proposed framework may inspire the local government and environmental agencies to update Singapore's construction codes and environmental policies, with the aim to encourage the application of low-carbon practices and technologies to the building sector in Singapore. It would also offer an implication for other countries that encounter similar challenges.