Abstract
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is becoming an increasingly important environmental systems analysis tool in the construction sector for the identification of measures and strategies to reduce the environmental impact of buildings throughout the whole value chain. Geotechnical processes, such as earthworks, ground improvement and foundation construction, are often energy- and resource-intensive. Geotechnical works can thus play an important role in moving towards more sustainable building construction practices. This article reviews recent applications of LCA of buildings, including foundations as the focus or part of the system studied, based on the ISO 14040/44 standards. The system boundaries of geotechnical works are defined and a conceptual model for LCA of geotechnical works in building construction is proposed. The results of the literature review showed that the application of LCA to the building substructure is currently under development, but still in a fragmented state. There is a need for a unified framework for LCA of geotechnical works in building construction, especially regarding the definition of the functional unit, the choice of system boundaries, the appropriateness of inventory data, and the selection of impact categories. The conceptual model focuses on the demonstration of inventory flows and system boundaries and can serve as a basis for scope definition in future LCA studies of geotechnical works in building construction. It may also support effective communication between different actors and stakeholders regarding environmental sustainability in the construction sector.
Highlights
The building and construction sector is one of the key components in the transition to a resource-effective and climate-neutral society
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is becoming an increasingly important environmental systems analysis tool in the construction sector for the identification of measures and strategies to reduce the environmental impact of buildings throughout the whole value chain
In 2018, the European Union (EU) presented a climate-neutral vision for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) economy by 2050, in which two of the seven main strategic building blocks were: to maximize the benefits of energy efficiency including zero emission buildings, and to establish a competitive industry and circular economy to enable the reduction of GHG emissions [3]
Summary
The building and construction sector is one of the key components in the transition to a resource-effective and climate-neutral society. In 2011, the EU endorsed an objective to decrease GHG emissions from the building sector by around 90% by 2050, compared to 1990 [2]. In December 2019, the European Council endorsed the objective of making the EU climate-neutral by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement [4]. In 2018, the Swedish construction and civil engineering sector presented a roadmap for fossil-free competitiveness, which emphasized the roles of technological shifts, innovation and a life-cycle perspective, to support Sweden’s climate goals [6].
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