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Waste Management and Operational Energy for Sustainable Buildings: A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Rosaria E.C. Amaral

    (Department of Civil Engineering Technology Environmental Management and Safety, Rochester Institute of Technology, 78 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester, NY 14623, USA)

  • Joel Brito

    (Department of Civil Engineering Technology Environmental Management and Safety, Rochester Institute of Technology, 78 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester, NY 14623, USA)

  • Matt Buckman

    (Department of Civil Engineering Technology Environmental Management and Safety, Rochester Institute of Technology, 78 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester, NY 14623, USA)

  • Elicia Drake

    (Department of Civil Engineering Technology Environmental Management and Safety, Rochester Institute of Technology, 78 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester, NY 14623, USA)

  • Esther Ilatova

    (Department of Civil Engineering Technology Environmental Management and Safety, Rochester Institute of Technology, 78 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester, NY 14623, USA)

  • Paige Rice

    (Department of Civil Engineering Technology Environmental Management and Safety, Rochester Institute of Technology, 78 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester, NY 14623, USA)

  • Carlos Sabbagh

    (Department of Civil Engineering Technology Environmental Management and Safety, Rochester Institute of Technology, 78 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester, NY 14623, USA)

  • Sergei Voronkin

    (Department of Civil Engineering Technology Environmental Management and Safety, Rochester Institute of Technology, 78 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester, NY 14623, USA)

  • Yewande S. Abraham

    (Department of Civil Engineering Technology Environmental Management and Safety, Rochester Institute of Technology, 78 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester, NY 14623, USA)

Abstract

Construction and demolition waste account for a significant part of the solid waste taking up landfills on a global scale. A considerable portion of the waste generated by the construction industry has substantial residual value, and therefore waste management and sustainability principles and techniques should be applied. Buildings consume a lot of energy during the operations phase, but decisions made during design and construction impact building operations. This study reviews sustainable building practices to explore strategies that ensure minimal effects on economy, society, and the environment through efficient resource and waste management at different phases of a building life cycle. These practices include pollution reduction, reuse and recycling, energy consumption, embodied carbon, and water resource management.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosaria E.C. Amaral & Joel Brito & Matt Buckman & Elicia Drake & Esther Ilatova & Paige Rice & Carlos Sabbagh & Sergei Voronkin & Yewande S. Abraham, 2020. "Waste Management and Operational Energy for Sustainable Buildings: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-21, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:13:p:5337-:d:379104
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Piotr Misztal & Paweł Dziekański, 2023. "Green Economy and Waste Management as Determinants of Modeling Green Capital of Districts in Poland in 2010–2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-25, January.
    4. Monika Zajemska & Dorota Wojtyto & Joanna Michalik & Szymon Berski, 2025. "Review of Current Trends in Sustainable Construction," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-42, May.
    5. Chunhong Chen & Ronggui Liu & Pinghua Zhu & Hui Liu & Xinjie Wang, 2020. "Carbonization Durability of Two Generations of Recycled Coarse Aggregate Concrete with Effect of Chloride Ion Corrosion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-18, December.
    6. Paweł Dziekański & Adam Wyszkowski & Piotr Prus & Andrzej Pawlik & Mansoor Maitah & Magdalena Wrońska, 2022. "Zero Waste as a Determinant of Shaping Green Economy Processes on the Example of Communes of Eastern Poland in 2010–2020," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-24, December.
    7. Wang, Jianning & Duan, Keyi & Zheng, Yulu, 2025. "Green supply chain management, green technology innovation and firms' energy consumption intensity," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    8. Sanjay Kumar & Kimihiro Sakagami & Heow Pueh Lee, 2025. "Beyond Sustainability: The Role of Regenerative Design in Optimizing Indoor Environmental Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-28, March.
    9. Farzaneh Mohammadi Jouzdani & Vahid Javidroozi & Hanifa Shah & Monica Mateo Garcia, 2025. "A Systemic Digital Transformation for Smart Net-Zero Cities: A State-of-the-Art Review," J, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-32, March.
    10. repec:cjk:ojpscm:v:4:y:2025:i:1:p:60-80:id:386 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Caroline Santana Rangel & Mayara Amario & Marco Pepe & Enzo Martinelli & Romildo Dias Toledo Filho, 2020. "Durability of Structural Recycled Aggregate Concrete Subjected to Freeze-Thaw Cycles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-21, August.

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