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The LCT Challenge: Defining New Design Objectives to Increase the Sustainability of Building Retrofit Interventions

Author

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  • Chiara Passoni

    (Department of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Bergamo, 24144 Dalmine, Italy)

  • Elisabetta Palumbo

    (Department of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Bergamo, 24144 Dalmine, Italy)

  • Rui Pinho

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

  • Alessandra Marini

    (Department of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Bergamo, 24144 Dalmine, Italy)

Abstract

The decarbonization of the construction sector, which is one of the most impactful sectors worldwide, requires a significant paradigm shift from a linear economy to a circular, future-proofed and sustainable economy. In this transition, the role of designers and structural engineers becomes pivotal, and new design objectives and principles inspired by Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) should be defined and included from the early stages of the design process to allow for a truly sustainable renovation of the built environment. In this paper, an overview of LCT-based objectives and principles is provided, critically analyzing the current state of the art of sustainability and circularity in the construction sector. The effectiveness of applying such design principles from the early stages of the design of retrofit interventions is then demonstrated with reference to a case study building. Four seismic retrofit alternatives made of timber, steel and concrete, conceived according to either LCT principles or traditional, were designed and compared to a demolition and reconstruction scenario on the basis of five common environmental impact indicators. The indicators were calculated adopting simplified LCA analyses based on Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), considering the product and End of Life stages of the building. The results of the comparative analyses confirm that LCT-based retrofit solutions are less impactful than both the traditional seismic retrofit interventions and the demolition and reconstruction scenario.

Suggested Citation

  • Chiara Passoni & Elisabetta Palumbo & Rui Pinho & Alessandra Marini, 2022. "The LCT Challenge: Defining New Design Objectives to Increase the Sustainability of Building Retrofit Interventions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-34, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:14:p:8860-:d:866870
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elisabetta Palumbo & Bernardette Soust-Verdaguer & Carmen Llatas & Marzia Traverso, 2020. "How to Obtain Accurate Environmental Impacts at Early Design Stages in BIM When Using Environmental Product Declaration. A Method to Support Decision-Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-24, August.
    2. Pamela Del Rosario & Elisabetta Palumbo & Marzia Traverso, 2021. "Environmental Product Declarations as Data Source for the Environmental Assessment of Buildings in the Context of Level(s) and DGNB: How Feasible Is Their Adoption?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, May.
    3. Ambroise Lachat & Konstantinos Mantalovas & Tiffany Desbois & Oumaya Yazoghli-Marzouk & Anne-Sophie Colas & Gaetano Di Mino & Adélaïde Feraille, 2021. "From Buildings’ End of Life to Aggregate Recycling under a Circular Economic Perspective: A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-25, August.
    4. Shaobo Liang & Hongmei Gu & Richard Bergman, 2021. "Environmental Life-Cycle Assessment and Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of a High-Rise Mass Timber Building: A Case Study in Pacific Northwestern United States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-16, July.
    5. van Ruijven, Bas J. & van Vuuren, Detlef P. & Boskaljon, Willem & Neelis, Maarten L. & Saygin, Deger & Patel, Martin K., 2016. "Long-term model-based projections of energy use and CO2 emissions from the global steel and cement industries," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 15-36.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Shantanu Ashok Raut & Lia Marchi & Jacopo Gaspari, 2025. "A System Thinking Approach to Circular-Based Strategies for Deep Energy Renovation: A Systematic Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-27, May.

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