Abstract
This study presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of ten single family houses located in Eastern Slovakia with the aim to compare them in terms of the materials and technologies used. The main goal is to investigate and emphasize the reduction rate of environmental impact resulting from using green materials and technologies. Environmental impacts are determined by using eToolLCD software. Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) categories of global warming, ozone depletion, acidification, eutrophication and photochemical ozone creation potential, as well as abiotic depletion potential - elements, abiotic depletion potential - fossil fuels, use of renewable primary energy resources, net use of fresh water, components for reuse and materials for recycling are determined within the cradle-to-grave boundary. Assessed family houses are built as a combination of conventional materials such as aerated concrete blocks, expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS) and roofing mineral wool and natural materials such as wood, cellulose, clay, straw and extensive vegetation roofs. Multi-criteria decision analysis points out that material optimization of building structures as well as the application of green technologies can ensure a considerable reduction of environmental impacts.
Highlights
Buildings and construction activities are playing important role in urbanisation by creating residential and working spaces and contributing to the state economy [1,2]
Subject of the paper is life cycle assessment of ten family houses from Eastern Slovakia using the LCA method. This analysis is focused on environmental impact categories: global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP), acidification potential (AP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), ozone depletion potential (ODP), abiotic depletion potential – elements (ADPE), abiotic depletion potential – fossil fuels (ADPF), net use of fresh water (FW), use of renewable primary energy resource, as raw materials (PERM) use of renewable primary energy resource, as energy source (PERE), components for reuse (CRU) and materials for recycling (MFR)
Key step of the inventory is to quantify the amount of raw materials and quantities of emitted substances to environment, which are in relation to functional unit, expressed by referential flow of assessed product
Summary
Buildings and construction activities are playing important role in urbanisation by creating residential and working spaces and contributing to the state economy [1,2] They have serious negative impact on the natural environment. Construction, operation and demolition of buildings, leads to large amount of noise, dust, water pollution and waste production [3] Besides that, these buildings represent the largest energy-consuming sector (35% of overall global energy consumption) and they make significant contribution to CO2 production. This analysis is focused on environmental impact categories: global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP), acidification potential (AP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), ozone depletion potential (ODP), abiotic depletion potential – elements (ADPE), abiotic depletion potential – fossil fuels (ADPF), net use of fresh water (FW), use of renewable primary energy resource, as raw materials (PERM) use of renewable primary energy resource, as energy source (PERE), components for reuse (CRU) and materials for recycling (MFR)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
