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Mitigation Strategies for Reduction of Embodied Energy and Carbon, in the Construction Systems of Contemporary Quality Architecture

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  • Enrico Sicignano

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy)

  • Giacomo Di Ruocco

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy)

  • Roberta Melella

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy)

Abstract

The criticality related to the consumption of operational energy and related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of existing buildings is clearly decreasing in new buildings due to the strategies tested and applied in recent years in the energy retrofit sector. Recently, studies have been focusing on strategies to reduce environmental impacts related to the entire life cycle of the building organism, with reference to the reduction of embodied energy (and related greenhouse gas emissions) in building materials. As part of EEA’s European EBC project, Annex 57, a wide range of case studies have been promoted with the aim of identifying design strategies that can reduce the embodied energy and related greenhouse gas emissions of buildings. The aim of this paper is to investigate the most common construction systems in the construction industry (concrete, steel, wood) through the analysis of three contemporary architectural works, with the aim of identifying the predisposition for environmental sustainability of each technological system, thus guiding the operators in the sector towards design choices more compatible with the environmental requirements recommended by European legislation.

Suggested Citation

  • Enrico Sicignano & Giacomo Di Ruocco & Roberta Melella, 2019. "Mitigation Strategies for Reduction of Embodied Energy and Carbon, in the Construction Systems of Contemporary Quality Architecture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:14:p:3806-:d:247503
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Oriol Pons-Valladares & Jelena Nikolic, 2020. "Sustainable Design, Construction, Refurbishment and Restoration of Architecture: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Roberta Melella & Giacomo Di Ruocco & Alfonso Sorvillo, 2021. "Circular Construction Process: Method for Developing a Selective, Low CO 2eq Disassembly and Demolition Plan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-34, August.
    3. Pan, W. & Teng, Y., 2021. "A systematic investigation into the methodological variables of embodied carbon assessment of buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    4. Antonino Di Bella & Milica Mitrovic, 2020. "Acoustic Characteristics of Cross-Laminated Timber Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-29, July.
    5. Enrico Sicignano & Giacomo Di Ruocco & Anna Stabile, 2019. "Quali—A Quantitative Environmental Assessment Method According to Italian CAM, for the Sustainable Design of Urban Neighbourhoods in Mediterranean Climatic Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-25, August.
    6. Hossein Omrany & Veronica Soebarto & Ehsan Sharifi & Ali Soltani, 2020. "Application of Life Cycle Energy Assessment in Residential Buildings: A Critical Review of Recent Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-30, January.
    7. Lachlan Curmi & Kumudu Kaushalya Weththasinghe & Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman Tariq, 2022. "Global Policy Review on Embodied Flows: Recommendations for Australian Construction Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, November.

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