Abstract
In the last few years, the renovation and refurbishment of existing buildings have become the main activities of the construction industry. In particular, many studies have recently focused on the mechanical and energy performances of existing retrofitted/refurbished facilities, while some research has addressed the environmental effects of such operations. The present study aims to assess the environmental impact of some retrofit interventions on an existing reinforced concrete (RC) building. Once the structural requirements have been satisfied and the environmental effects of these retrofit solutions defined, the final purpose of this study is to identify the most environmentally sustainable retrofit strategy. The environmental impact of the structural retrofit options is assessed using a life-cycle assessment (LCA). This paper sets out a systematic approach that can be adopted when choosing the best structural retrofit option in terms of sustainability performance. The final aim of the study is to also provide a tool for researchers and practitioners that reflects a deep understanding of the sustainability aspects of retrofit operations and can be used for future researches or practical activities.
Highlights
In the last few years, several studies have focused on the assessment of global environmental impacts in both developed and developing countries
The present study aims to assess the environmental impact of some retrofit interventions on an existing reinforced concrete (RC) building
According to the approach taken by Juan et al and Menna et al [14,43], the purpose of this paper is to evaluate different strengthening solutions applied to an RC building located in Italy
Summary
In the last few years, several studies have focused on the assessment of global environmental impacts in both developed and developing countries. Kofoworola and Gheewala [25] conducted an LCA of an RC office building in Thailand They found that steel and concrete were the materials with the greatest environmental impact, and their use-phase accounted for 52% of the energy consumption of the total life-cycle. Designers very rarely consider environmental effects in the decision-making process due to the difficulty of assessing some factors Within this context, and according to the approach taken by Juan et al and Menna et al [14,43], the purpose of this paper is to evaluate different strengthening solutions applied to an RC building located in Italy. The environmental impact of the retrofit options is examined using an LCA, according to ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006 [44,45]
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