Energy and the Environment in residential construction

Posted by Olga Semennikova
Type: 
Full LCA available on the web
Comparative: 
yes
Publication year: 
2009
Language: 
English
Code: 
Construction/Building
Product: 
building design
Environmental Impacts
Material impact(s): 
Acidification
Water consumption
Waste generation
Global warming
Smog
Raw material impact level: 
Medium
Manufacturing impact(s): 
Water consumption
Global warming
Abiotic ressouces depletion
Smog
Manufacturing impact level: 
Medium
Usage impact(s): 
Water consumption
Global warming
Abiotic ressouces depletion
Smog
Usage impact level: 
High
Quality and sources
Is the study a: 
Quick LCA
Was a critical review performed?: 
No
Is the study compliant with ISO 14044?: 
Yes
Sponsor name(s): 
ATHENA Sustainable Materials Institute
Sponsor name(s): 
Canadian Wood Council
Sponsor type: 
University
Sponsor type: 
Public administration
Practitioner(s): 
A publication of the Canadian Wood Council
Summary
Functional unit: 
Building Design
Goal and scope of the summary: 
The focus of the energy simulations was to determine the influence of the varying wall envelopes on operating energy, specifically, space heating and cooling. To this end, the simulations assumed a highefficiency natural gas-fired, forced-air furnace and a 3-ton conventional air conditioner for all three material designs assuming Toronto climatic conditions. Plug-loads and domestic hot water heating were deemed to be the same for all three material designs and were excluded from the assessment.

The ATHENA™ EIE model for LCA permitted modeling of detailed wood, concrete and steel designs.
The assumptions and substitutions was described below in terms of global variables as well as specifics concerning each material design scenario for 20 years.
In conclusion, where wood comes from well-managed forests, it is the environmental building material of choice.
This study is interesting for its approach to analysis of building structures in the study, the impact of foundation, walls, floors, roofs and others. You can analyse the impacts for each building component. The compréhention is easy, all drawings were presented.

I can see how challenging

I can see how challenging this domain is about to become, home construction industry has a tremendous potential start environmental initiatives. I convinced myself by that when I was looking for new bathroom shower doors, some of them are actually designed to be sustainable in every sense of the world.


This study will prove itself

This study will prove itself helpful once I decide to change my water heater system, I am still making some research on what system would be the fittest.


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