The relationship between structural parameters and water footprint of residential buildings

Abstract

The main criteria used to select the structural parameters of buildings are generally based on technical and economic considerations. Despite such concerns, environmental issues, particularly the water footprint of structures, have received little attention in practice. This paper assesses the effects of structural parameters (area, height, materials, slab, and the lateral load resisting system), along with site classification on the water footprint of residential buildings. Ideas from the life cycle assessment methodology and the approach of the Water Footprint Network are applied. The paper proposes a water footprint framework for residential building assessment. A sample of 45 buildings is analyzed. Water footprints of material extraction, production, transportation, and construction are calculated. The paper shows that, in order to reduce the water footprint of structures, concrete structures perform better than steel structures, short structures are better than tall structures, composite slabs are better than steel deck and cobute precast slabs, and building sites with dense soils are better than building sites with soft soils.