Assessment tools for the environmental evaluation of concrete, plaster and brick elements production. (15th July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Giama, E.; Papadopoulos, A.M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 99(2015:Jul. 15)
• Page Start: 75
• Page End: 85
• Publication Date: 2015-07-15
• Subjects: Life cycle analysis -- Carbon footprint analysis -- Construction materials; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.03.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: The production of construction materials accounts for significant quantities of raw materials and respectively big amounts of energy. The fact that construction materials contribute in a most decisive way to sustainable building management has been proven by many studies; they are therefore rightly important elements for the energy conscious and bioclimatic design and construction of new buildings. Their exact and environmental features, however, have to be determined on a product specific base, as they depend on the raw material used, the manufacturing process applied and the energy sources used for the production. Furthermore, the determination of the materials' environmental impact can be carried out in many methodological ways. This paper presents the environmental impacts deriving from the environmental evaluation analysis of the most widely used construction materials, on the base of two environmental assessment methodologies: the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and the Carbon Footprint Analysis, also discussing their link with ecolabelling. The results drawn, verify the potential of those methodologies as effective tools towards sustainable constructions as well the role that efficient energy and raw materials use has in reducing the environmental impact of building materials' production. Highlights: Assessment tools for environmental evaluation. Comparison of Life Cycle Analysis with Carbon Footprint Analysis. Development of an environmental evaluation database of construction materials. Alternatives for minimizing the environmental impact.