Embodied Energy in Concrete and Structural Masonry on Typical Brazilian Buildings
The AEC sector has an expressive environmental responsibility. Actually, most building materials have severe environmental impacts along their production cycle. Professionals enrolled in building design may choice the materials and techniques with less impact among the viable options. This work presents a study about embodied energy in materials of two typical Brazilian constructive alternatives. The construction options considered are reinforced concrete structure and structural masonry. The study was developed for the region of São Leopoldo, southern Brazil. Results indicated that the energy embodied in these two constructive systems is approximately 1.72 GJ·m-2 and 1.26 GJ·m-2, respectively. It may be concluded that the embodied energy is lower in the structural masonry system, with a reduction around to 1/4 in relation to the traditional option. The results can be used to help design decisions.
[1] Roaf, S., Fuentes, M. & Thomas, S. Ecohouse: A design guide. 4thed. Architectural Press, Elsevier, Oxford, UK, 2012.
[2] Gauzin-Müller, D.Sustainable Architecture and Urbanism, Concepts, Technologies, Examples. Birkhäuser, Basel, Belgium, 2002.
[3] Gao, W., Ariyama, T., Ojima, T., Meier, A. Energy impacts of recycling disassembly material in residential buildings, Energy and Buildings, 33, 2001, 553-562.
[4] Thormark, C. A low energy building in a lifecycle – Embodied energy, energy need for operation and recycling potential, International Journal of Building Environment, 37, 2002, 429–435.
[5] Venkatarama-Reddy, B. V.; Jagadish, K. S. Embodied energy of common and alternative building materials and technologies, Energy and Buildings, 35, 2003, 129–137.
[6] Chel, A.; Tiwari, G. N. Thermal performance and embodied energy analysis of a passive house – case study of vault roof mud-house in India, Applied Energy, 86, 2009, 1956-1969.
[7] Asif, M.; Muneer, T.; Kelley, R. Life cycle assessment: a case study of a dwelling home in Scotland, Building and Environment, 42, 2007, 1391-1394.
[8] Cybis, L. F.; Santos, C. V. J. Análise do ciclo de vida (ACV) aplicada à indústria da construção civil - estudo de caso, In: XXVII Congresso Interamericano de EngenhariaSanitária e Ambiental, Porto Alegre. Proceedings… Porto Alegre, Brasil: AIDIS-ABES/RS, 2000.
[9] Manfredini, C.; Sattler, M. A.Estimativa de energiaincorporada a materiais de cerâmicavermelha no Rio Grande do Sul, Ambiente Construído, 5, 2005, 23-37.
[10] Taborianski, V. M.; Prado, R. T. A. Comparative evaluation of the contribution of residential water heating systems to the variation of greenhouse gases stock in the atmosphere, Building and Environment, 39, 2004, 645–652.
[11] Tavares, S. F. Metodologiaparaanálise do ciclo de vidaenergético de edificaçõesresidenciaisbrasileiras (Methodology to energetic life-cycle analysis on Brazilian residential buildings), PhD Thesis (Civil Engineering), UFSC, Florianópolis, Brasil, 2006.
[12] Lobo, F. H. R.; Tavares, S. F.; Freitas, M. C. D. Avaliação de impactoambiental com foconaenergiaembutida: Estudo de caso, In: III Encontro Latino Americano sobreEdificações e Comunidades Sustentáveis, Recife. Proceedings... Recife, Brazil: ANTAC, 2009.
[13] Scheuer, C.; Keoleian, G.A.; Repper, P. Life cycle energy and environmental performance of a new university building: modelling challenges and design implications, Energy and Buildings, 35, 2003, 1049-1064.
[14] Tiwari, P. Energy efficiency and building construction in India, Building and Environment, 36, 2001, 1127-1135.
[1] Roaf, S., Fuentes, M. & Thomas, S. Ecohouse: A design guide. 4thed. Architectural Press, Elsevier, Oxford, UK, 2012.
[2] Gauzin-Müller, D.Sustainable Architecture and Urbanism, Concepts, Technologies, Examples. Birkhäuser, Basel, Belgium, 2002.
[3] Gao, W., Ariyama, T., Ojima, T., Meier, A. Energy impacts of recycling disassembly material in residential buildings, Energy and Buildings, 33, 2001, 553-562.
[4] Thormark, C. A low energy building in a lifecycle – Embodied energy, energy need for operation and recycling potential, International Journal of Building Environment, 37, 2002, 429–435.
[5] Venkatarama-Reddy, B. V.; Jagadish, K. S. Embodied energy of common and alternative building materials and technologies, Energy and Buildings, 35, 2003, 129–137.
[6] Chel, A.; Tiwari, G. N. Thermal performance and embodied energy analysis of a passive house – case study of vault roof mud-house in India, Applied Energy, 86, 2009, 1956-1969.
[7] Asif, M.; Muneer, T.; Kelley, R. Life cycle assessment: a case study of a dwelling home in Scotland, Building and Environment, 42, 2007, 1391-1394.
[8] Cybis, L. F.; Santos, C. V. J. Análise do ciclo de vida (ACV) aplicada à indústria da construção civil - estudo de caso, In: XXVII Congresso Interamericano de EngenhariaSanitária e Ambiental, Porto Alegre. Proceedings… Porto Alegre, Brasil: AIDIS-ABES/RS, 2000.
[9] Manfredini, C.; Sattler, M. A.Estimativa de energiaincorporada a materiais de cerâmicavermelha no Rio Grande do Sul, Ambiente Construído, 5, 2005, 23-37.
[10] Taborianski, V. M.; Prado, R. T. A. Comparative evaluation of the contribution of residential water heating systems to the variation of greenhouse gases stock in the atmosphere, Building and Environment, 39, 2004, 645–652.
[11] Tavares, S. F. Metodologiaparaanálise do ciclo de vidaenergético de edificaçõesresidenciaisbrasileiras (Methodology to energetic life-cycle analysis on Brazilian residential buildings), PhD Thesis (Civil Engineering), UFSC, Florianópolis, Brasil, 2006.
[12] Lobo, F. H. R.; Tavares, S. F.; Freitas, M. C. D. Avaliação de impactoambiental com foconaenergiaembutida: Estudo de caso, In: III Encontro Latino Americano sobreEdificações e Comunidades Sustentáveis, Recife. Proceedings... Recife, Brazil: ANTAC, 2009.
[13] Scheuer, C.; Keoleian, G.A.; Repper, P. Life cycle energy and environmental performance of a new university building: modelling challenges and design implications, Energy and Buildings, 35, 2003, 1049-1064.
[14] Tiwari, P. Energy efficiency and building construction in India, Building and Environment, 36, 2001, 1127-1135.
@article{"International Journal of Architectural, Civil and Construction Sciences:66175", author = "Marco A. S. González and Marlova P. Kulakowski and Luciano G. Breitenbach and Felipe Kirch", title = "Embodied Energy in Concrete and Structural Masonry on Typical Brazilian Buildings", abstract = "The AEC sector has an expressive environmental responsibility. Actually, most building materials have severe environmental impacts along their production cycle. Professionals enrolled in building design may choice the materials and techniques with less impact among the viable options. This work presents a study about embodied energy in materials of two typical Brazilian constructive alternatives. The construction options considered are reinforced concrete structure and structural masonry. The study was developed for the region of São Leopoldo, southern Brazil. Results indicated that the energy embodied in these two constructive systems is approximately 1.72 GJ·m-2 and 1.26 GJ·m-2, respectively. It may be concluded that the embodied energy is lower in the structural masonry system, with a reduction around to 1/4 in relation to the traditional option. The results can be used to help design decisions.
", keywords = "Civil construction, sustainability, embodied energy. ", volume = "8", number = "1", pages = "51-5", }
