IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i7p4161-d784247.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Life Cycle Environmental Sustainability and Energy Assessment of Timber Wall Construction: A Comprehensive Overview

Author

Listed:
  • Rabaka Sultana

    (College of Engineering, IT & Environment, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia)

  • Ahmad Rashedi

    (College of Engineering, IT & Environment, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia)

  • Taslima Khanam

    (College of Engineering, IT & Environment, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia)

  • Byongug Jeong

    (Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 100 Montrose Street, Glasgow G4 0LZ, UK)

  • Homa Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha

    (Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj 31587-77871, Iran)

  • Majid Hussain

    (Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Haripur, Haripur City 21120, Pakistan)

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive overview of the life cycle environmental and energy assessment for all residential and commercial constructions made of timber walls, globally. The study was carried out based on a systematic literature analysis conducted on the Scopus database. A total of 66 research articles were relevant to timber wall design. Among these, the residential construction sector received more attention than the commercial sector, while the low-rise construction (1–2 stories) gained more attention than high-rise construction (>5 stories). Most of these studies were conducted in Canada, Europe, Malaysia, and the USA. In addition, the end-of-life phase received limited attention compared to upstream phases in most of the studies. We compared all environmental and energy-based life cycle impacts that used “m 2 ” as the functional unit; this group represented 21 research articles. Global warming potential was understandably the most studied life cycle environmental impact category followed by acidification, eutrophication, embodied energy, photochemical oxidation, and abiotic depletion. In terms of global warming impact, the external walls of low-rise buildings emit 18 to 702 kg CO 2 kg eq./m 2 , while the internal walls of the same emit 11 kg CO 2 kg eq./m 2 . In turn, the walls of high-rise buildings carry 114.3 to 227.3 kg CO 2 kg eq./m 2 in terms of global warming impact. The review highlights variations in timber wall designs and the environmental impact of these variations, together with different system boundaries and varying building lifetimes, as covered in various articles. Finally, a few recommendations have been offered at the end of the article for future researchers of this domain.

Suggested Citation

  • Rabaka Sultana & Ahmad Rashedi & Taslima Khanam & Byongug Jeong & Homa Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha & Majid Hussain, 2022. "Life Cycle Environmental Sustainability and Energy Assessment of Timber Wall Construction: A Comprehensive Overview," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-30, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:7:p:4161-:d:784247
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/7/4161/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/7/4161/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Park, Chybyung & Jeong, Byongug & Zhou, Peilin & Jang, Hayoung & Kim, Seongwan & Jeon, Hyeonmin & Nam, Dong & Rashedi, Ahmad, 2022. "Live-Life cycle assessment of the electric propulsion ship using solar PV," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    2. Helena Monteiro & Fausto Freire & John E. Fernández, 2020. "Life-Cycle Assessment of Alternative Envelope Construction for a New House in South-Western Europe: Embodied and Operational Magnitude," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    3. Patricia Schneider-Marin & Hannes Harter & Konstantin Tkachuk & Werner Lang, 2020. "Uncertainty Analysis of Embedded Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Using BIM in Early Design Stages," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, March.
    4. Ahmad Rashedi & Irfan Ullah Muhammadi & Rana Hadi & Syeda Ghufrana Nadeem & Nasreen Khan & Farzana Ibrahim & Mohamad Zaki Hassan & Taslima Khanam & Byongug Jeong & Majid Hussain, 2022. "Characterization and Life Cycle Exergo-Environmental Analysis of Wood Pellet Biofuel Produced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-22, February.
    5. Feifei Fu & Hanbin Luo & Hua Zhong & Andrew Hill, 2014. "Development of a Carbon Emission Calculations System for Optimizing Building Plan Based on the LCA Framework," Mathematical Problems in Engineering, Hindawi, vol. 2014, pages 1-13, June.
    6. Tetiana Roik & Oleg Gavrysh & Ahmad Rashedi & Taslima Khanam & Ali Raza & Byongug Jeong, 2022. "New Antifriction Composites for Printing Machines Based on Tool Steel Grinding Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-11, February.
    7. Leonora Charlotte Malabi Eberhardt & Anne van Stijn & Freja Nygaard Rasmussen & Morten Birkved & Harpa Birgisdottir, 2020. "Development of a Life Cycle Assessment Allocation Approach for Circular Economy in the Built Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-16, November.
    8. A. Rashedi & Taslima Khanam & Mirjam Jonkman, 2020. "On Reduced Consumption of Fossil Fuels in 2020 and Its Consequences in Global Environment and Exergy Demand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-14, November.
    9. Marek Potkány & Miloš Gejdoš & Marek Debnár, 2018. "Sustainable Innovation Approach for Wood Quality Evaluation in Green Business," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-14, August.
    10. Anne Sigrid Nordby & Andrew David Shea, 2013. "Building Materials in the Operational Phase," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 17(5), pages 763-776, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Tehseen Ahmad & Majid Hussain & Mudassar Iqbal & Ashfaq Ali & Wajiha Manzoor & Hamida Bibi & Shamsher Ali & Fariha Rehman & Ahmad Rashedi & Muhammad Amin & Anila Tabassum & Ghulam Raza & Dilawar Farha, 2022. "Environmental, Energy, and Water Footprints of Marble Tile Production Chain in a Life Cycle Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-20, July.
    2. Henriette Fischer & Martin Aichholzer & Azra Korjenic, 2023. "Ecological Potential of Building Components in Multi-Storey Residential Construction: A Comparative Case Study between an Existing Concrete and a Timber Building in Austria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Shin, Bigyeong & Chang, Seong Jin & Wi, Seunghwan & Kim, Sumin, 2023. "Estimation of energy demand and greenhouse gas emission reduction effect of cross-laminated timber (CLT) hybrid wall using life cycle assessment for urban residential planning," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    4. Kofi Armah Boakye-Yiadom & Alessio Ilari & Daniele Duca, 2022. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Life Cycle Assessment on the Black Soldier Fly ( Hermetia illucens L.)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-29, August.
    5. Maaz Hassan & Naveed Usman & Majid Hussain & Adnan Yousaf & Muhammad Aamad Khattak & Sidra Yousaf & Rankeshwarnath Sanjay Mishr & Sana Ahmad & Fariha Rehman & Ahmad Rashedi, 2023. "Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment of Biomass Pellets Biofuel in Hazara Division, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tehseen Ahmad & Majid Hussain & Mudassar Iqbal & Ashfaq Ali & Wajiha Manzoor & Hamida Bibi & Shamsher Ali & Fariha Rehman & Ahmad Rashedi & Muhammad Amin & Anila Tabassum & Ghulam Raza & Dilawar Farha, 2022. "Environmental, Energy, and Water Footprints of Marble Tile Production Chain in a Life Cycle Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-20, July.
    2. Mahmoud G. Hemeida & Ashraf M. Hemeida & Tomonobu Senjyu & Dina Osheba, 2022. "Renewable Energy Resources Technologies and Life Cycle Assessment: Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-36, December.
    3. Tetiana Roik & Oleg Gavrysh & Ahmad Rashedi & Taslima Khanam & Ali Raza & Byongug Jeong, 2022. "New Antifriction Composites for Printing Machines Based on Tool Steel Grinding Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-11, February.
    4. Sarah C. Andersen & Harpa Birgisdottir & Morten Birkved, 2022. "Life Cycle Assessments of Circular Economy in the Built Environment—A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-31, June.
    5. Mustafa S. Al-Tekreeti & Salwa M. Beheiry & Vian Ahmed, 2022. "Commitment Indicators for Tracking Sustainable Design Decisions in Construction Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-16, May.
    6. Ivan Deviatkin & Sanna Rousu & Malahat Ghoreishi & Mohammad Naji Nassajfar & Mika Horttanainen & Ville Leminen, 2022. "Implementation of Circular Economy Strategies within the Electronics Sector: Insights from Finnish Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-11, March.
    7. Ľubica Simanová & Andrea Sujová, 2022. "The Impact of Continuous Improvement Concepts on the Performance of Furniture Production Processes," Central European Business Review, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2022(1), pages 111-137.
    8. Park, Chybyung & Jeong, Byongug & Zhou, Peilin, 2022. "Lifecycle energy solution of the electric propulsion ship with Live-Life cycle assessment for clean maritime economy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    9. Bas Wouterszoon Jansen & Anne van Stijn & Vincent Gruis & Gerard van Bortel, 2022. "Cooking Up a Circular Kitchen: A Longitudinal Study of Stakeholder Choices in the Development of a Circular Building Component," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-20, November.
    10. Mariana Sedliačiková & Patrik Aláč & Mária Moresová, 2020. "How Behavioral Aspects Influence the Sustainable Financial Decisions of Shareholders: An Empirical Study and Proposal for a Relevant Decision-Making Concept," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-18, June.
    11. Silvia Lorincová & Peter Štarchoň & Dagmar Weberová & Miloš Hitka & Martina Lipoldová, 2019. "Employee Motivation as a Tool to Achieve Sustainability of Business Processes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-15, June.
    12. Muhandiramge Nimashi Navodana Rodrigo & Srinath Perera & Sepani Senaratne & Xiaohua Jin, 2021. "Review of Supply Chain Based Embodied Carbon Estimating Method: A Case Study Based Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    13. Maaz Hassan & Naveed Usman & Majid Hussain & Adnan Yousaf & Muhammad Aamad Khattak & Sidra Yousaf & Rankeshwarnath Sanjay Mishr & Sana Ahmad & Fariha Rehman & Ahmad Rashedi, 2023. "Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment of Biomass Pellets Biofuel in Hazara Division, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, August.
    14. Ahmad Rashedi & Irfan Ullah Muhammadi & Rana Hadi & Syeda Ghufrana Nadeem & Nasreen Khan & Farzana Ibrahim & Mohamad Zaki Hassan & Taslima Khanam & Byongug Jeong & Majid Hussain, 2022. "Characterization and Life Cycle Exergo-Environmental Analysis of Wood Pellet Biofuel Produced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-22, February.
    15. Kamal Abdelrahim Mohamed Shuka & Wang Ke & Mohammad Sohail Nazar & Ghali Abdullahi Abubakar & AmirReza Shahtahamssebi, 2022. "Impact of Hydrological Infrastructure Projects on Land Use/Cover and Socioeconomic Development in Arid Regions—Evidence from the Upper Atbara and Setit Dam Complex, Kassala, Eastern Sudan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-23, March.
    16. Anna Manowska & Andrzej Nowrot, 2022. "Solar Farms as the Only Power Source for the Entire Country," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-15, July.
    17. John E. Candelo-Beccera & Leonardo Bohórquez Maldonado & Edwin Paipa Sanabria & Hernán Vergara Pestana & José Jiménez García, 2023. "Technological Alternatives for Electric Propulsion Systems in the Waterway Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-16, November.
    18. Cyrine Mrad & Luís Frölén Ribeiro, 2022. "A Review of Europe’s Circular Economy in the Building Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, October.
    19. Lukas Folkens & Petra Schneider, 2022. "Responsible Carbon Resource Management through Input-Oriented Cap and Trade (IOCT)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, May.
    20. Indre Siksnelyte-Butkiene, 2021. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic to the Sustainability of the Energy Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-19, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:7:p:4161-:d:784247. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.