Integrating climate change impact in new building design process: A review of building life cycle carbon emission assessment methodologies

Abstract

Life-Cycle Carbon Emission Assessment (LCCO2A) of buildings integrating climate change impact has received increasing attention by researchers as the consequences of climate change become more apparent. It is crucial to integrate the indicator of life cycle carbon equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the early design stage combined with a life cycle assessment, to ensure the elimination of GHG emissions from a building, for its entire life. LCCO2A can provide the necessary information required for reducing carbon emissions of the buildings sector both systematically and comprehensively; however, the lack of a unified assessment framework has prevented the LCCO2A from being utilised as a common daily decision-support tool for sustainable design. This paper will take a retrospective approach when reviewing the methodologies of building LCCO2A in order to facilitate sustainable collective building design which incorporates GHG emission reduction objectives. The paper discusses a wide array of issues concerning LCCO2A and will demonstrate solution methods, as addressed in the extensive existing literature examined in the review and will attempt to establish an effective framework for life cycle carbon assessment. The implication of promoting sustainable designs which incorporate climate change mitigation objectives at the design phase together with the need for climate change policies to facilitate such processes, are also discussed.