How to Achieve Balance in the Life Cycle Equation of a Building?

Abstract

In relation to embodied carbon, it is important to recognize that, building are a significant material bank, as they constitute a repository of high-carbon resources for many decades, according to Level(s) indicator 1.2 Thus, it is important to study designs that facilitate future reuse and recycling at the end of the building’s useful life. Until now, the practice of evaluating reversibility in building materials to establish the potential to avoid impacts, has been at an experimental level and for research purposes to verify the percentage of recoverability of materials at the end of their life cycle. This work present life cycle assessment of three buildings representing the design criteria efficiency, both in energy consumption and the optimal use of materials is carried out, under the “Cradle to Cradle” approach, considering manufacturing as the cradle and the reuse scenario as the second cradle, evaluating the circularity of the components classified as “critical elements” in indicator 1.2. The reduction in the carbon footprint in the life cycle of a building over a period of 50 years is achieved thanks to the benefits beyond the system, especially in two relevant aspects: 1. the independence of the use of fossil resource, which is the case of NZEB buildings 2. The closure of material cycles, through durability, reversibility, and recyclability.