Abstract
Sustainable architecture searches for methods to lessen the adverse environmental burdens of buildings by efficiently and moderately using materials, energy and space. Ensuring sustainable development in multiple dimensions requires an essential factor such as sustainable architectural practice that inculcates assessment framework. Life Cycle Energy Assessment (LCEA) is a key component of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in which energy use at different life cycle stage of buildings is the only parameter analysed. In developing countries, defining sustainable architecture and environmental sustainability assessment in buildings remains a herculean task. The aim of the study was to examine the theoretical challenges associated with defining what we mean by calling a building green or sustainable architectural design and a post-positivism viewpoint on sustainability assessment of architectural design. The objectives are to review the criteria for sustainable architecture and conduct an LCEA of an existing residential apartment building in Abakaliki- Nigeria, using process-based Life Cycle Energy Assessment. The embodied energy intensity was found to be high at 6.10GJ/M 2, while cement-based component was 8.8% by mass but accounted for 67.6% of the embodied energy. Consequently, it is imperative to carry out LCEA at the early stage of design and employ strategies to reduce embodied energy instead of focusing only on lessening the operational energy. Environmental and energy efficiency approaches should be prioritized on a life cycle energy basis.
Highlights
Any professional that is involved in building design, procurement, construction and building maintenance or other activities related to the built environment in recent years would have encountered in one way or another the term sustainability or sustainable architectural design
Results obtained for the intensity for embodied energy, operational energy and total life-cycle energy are stated in square meters (M2) rate founded on the livable area of 355.68m2, referred to as energy intensity
The study reviewed the theoretical challenges associated in defining what we mean by calling a building “green” or sustainable architectural design and provides a summary of a post-positivism viewpoint on the development of sustainable architecture by using a case study
Summary
Any professional that is involved in building design, procurement, construction and building maintenance or other activities related to the built environment in recent years would have encountered in one way or another the term sustainability or sustainable architectural design. 778 Life Cycle Energy Assessment (LCEA) Approach: A Prospect for Sustainable Architecture in Developing Countries assessment framework It is the designer's insight and technical knowledge to implement the fundamental features of the practice i.e. to design and build in accord with the environment [3], sociocultural and economic aspects of a community [2]. According to Walker [5] architects have the responsibility to engage in life cycle energy thinking during the design phase through a coherent deliberation about a combination of issues like environmental sustainability, durability, longevity and appropriate materials One of such environmental assessment tools or framework that enables the architect to ascertain the level sustainability of his design is Life Cycle Energy Assessment (LCEA). This is because according to the UNEP [7] construction of buildings “accounts for 40% of total energy use, 40% of altogether raw materials use, 30% of solid waste generation, and responsible for about 33% of the global greenhouse gas emissions”
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