IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i14p5842-d1431599.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Carbon Emission Accounting and Reduction for Buildings Based on a Life Cycle Assessment: A Case Study in China’s Hot-Summer and Warm-Winter Region

Author

Listed:
  • Wanying Wang

    (School of Management, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, China
    School of Civil Engineering, Huaqing College, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710043, China)

  • Luyan Li

    (School of Civil Engineering, Huaqing College, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710043, China)

  • Victor Shi

    (Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada)

  • Shervin Espahbod

    (Shannon School of Business, Cape Breton University, Sydney, NS B1M 1A2, Canada)

Abstract

At the 75th United Nations General Assembly, China committed to peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. In response, the national standard “General Specification for Building Energy Conservation and Utilization of Renewable Energy” has been adopted across 20 provinces and cities in seven major regions, including North China, Northeast China, and South China. These regions have implemented stringent energy-saving and emission reduction reviews and quota requirements. Despite this, there is limited research on comprehensive life cycle carbon emission calculations and carbon reduction designs. This study addresses this gap by focusing on economically developed regions with high population density and substantial energy-saving potential, specifically targeting the warm winter and hot summer regions of China. Using a commercial building in Shenzhen as a case study, we established a carbon emission accounting model based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) method. We calculated carbon emissions during the material phase using the project’s bill of quantities and relevant carbon emission factors. Additionally, we used the CEEB 2023 software to design energy-saving and emission reduction solutions for the building. Our comparative analysis reveals that the new design reduces the carbon emissions of the case study building by 13.5%. This reduction not only mitigates the environmental impact of construction but also contributes to the fight against the greenhouse effect, supporting the broader goal of sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Wanying Wang & Luyan Li & Victor Shi & Shervin Espahbod, 2024. "Carbon Emission Accounting and Reduction for Buildings Based on a Life Cycle Assessment: A Case Study in China’s Hot-Summer and Warm-Winter Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:14:p:5842-:d:1431599
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/14/5842/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/14/5842/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Maryam Keyhani & Atefeh Abbaspour & Ali Bahadori-Jahromi & Anastasia Mylona & Alan Janbey & Paulina Godfrey & Hexin Zhang, 2023. "Whole Life Carbon Assessment of a Typical UK Residential Building Using Different Embodied Carbon Data Sources," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Guo, Qingbin & Wang, Yong & Dong, Xiaobin, 2022. "Effects of smart city construction on energy saving and CO2 emission reduction: Evidence from China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    3. Huanyu Wu & Wenwen Zhou & Kunyang Chen & Lianxiang Zhang & Zicheng Zhang & Yanqiu Li & Zhijun Hu, 2023. "Carbon Emissions Assessment for Building Decoration Based on Life Cycle Assessment: A Case Study of Office Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-18, September.
    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. T. X. Du & Kamilia Mehrabi Jorshary & Mirali Seyedrezaei & Valisher Sapayev Odilbek Uglu, 2025. "Optimal Energy Scheduling of Load Demand with Two-Level Multi-objective Functions in Smart Electrical Grid," SN Operations Research Forum, Springer, vol. 6(2), pages 1-23, June.
    2. S. Ray & A. M. Ali & Temur Eshchanov & Egambergan Khudoynazarov, 2025. "Optimal Energy Management of the Smart Microgrid Considering Uncertainty of Renewable Energy Sources and Demand Response Programs," SN Operations Research Forum, Springer, vol. 6(2), pages 1-24, June.
    3. M. Mohammedi & Majid Naseri & Kamilia Mehrabi Jorshary & Navid Golchin & Shokhjakhon Akhmedov & Valisher Sapayev Odilbek Uglu, 2025. "Economic, Environmental, and Technical Optimal Energy Scheduling of Smart Hybrid Energy System Considering Demand Response Participation," SN Operations Research Forum, Springer, vol. 6(2), pages 1-21, June.

    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. Charfeddine, Lanouar & Umlai, Mohamed, 2023. "ICT sector, digitization and environmental sustainability: A systematic review of the literature from 2000 to 2022," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    2. Long Qian & Yunjie Zhou & Ying Sun, 2023. "Regional Differences, Distribution Dynamics, and Convergence of the Green Total Factor Productivity of China’s Cities under the Dual Carbon Targets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-26, August.
    3. Liu, Kai & Mahmoud, Haitham A. & Liu, Liqun & Halteh, Khaled & Arnone, Gioia & Shukurullaevich, Nizomjon Khajimuratov & Alzoubi, Haitham M., 2024. "Exploring the Nexus between Fintech, natural resources, urbanization, and environment sustainability in China: A QARDL study," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    4. Liying Cui & Min Peng & Hengshuo Zhang & Liwei Cui, 2025. "Analysis of the Dynamic System Driving High-Quality Transformation of Resource-Based Regions Through Smart Eco-Innovation: Evidence from Daqing City, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-22, April.
    5. Jingrong Tan & Lin Chen, 2022. "Spatial Effect of Digital Economy on Particulate Matter 2.5 in the Process of Smart Cities: Evidence from Prefecture-Level Cities in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-20, November.
    6. Ya Wu & Yin Liu, 2025. "How does the digital economy affect urban CO2 emissions? Mechanism discussion and empirical test," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(6), pages 14097-14122, June.
    7. Kalina Grzesiuk & Dorota Jegorow & Monika Wawer & Anna Głowacz, 2023. "Energy-Efficient City Transportation Solutions in the Context of Energy-Conserving and Mobility Behaviours of Generation Z," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-28, August.
    8. Zhang, Weike & Fan, Hongxia & Zhao, Qiwei, 2023. "Seeing green: How does digital infrastructure affect carbon emission intensity?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(PB).
    9. Zheng, Deyuan & Song, Hang & Zhao, Chunguang & Liu, Yujiao & Zhao, Wenhao, 2024. "Is it possible for semiconductor companies to reduce carbon emissions through digital transformation? Evidence from China," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    10. Saige Wang & Chenchen Zhai & Yunxiao Zhang, 2024. "Evaluating the Impact of Urban Digital Infrastructure on Land Use Efficiency Based on 279 Cities in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-24, March.
    11. Shen, Weiteng & Yu, Xuan & Sun, Tong & Pan, Tiejun & Zhong, Shunbin, 2025. "The effects of internet infrastructure on carbon neutrality," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    12. Zhongshuai Shen & Xueying Bao & Zilong Li & Xiangru Lv, 2024. "Comparative Analysis of Carbon Emissions from Filled Embankment and Excavated Graben Schemes of Railway Subgrade Engineering," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-28, September.
    13. Zhong, Shen & Zhou, Zhicheng & Gao, Wei, 2025. "Impact of regional finance reform and innovation policies on green innovation in pilot cities: A quasi-natural experiment," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 888-911.
    14. Guo, Qingbin & Zhong, Jinrong, 2022. "The effect of urban innovation performance of smart city construction policies: Evaluate by using a multiple period difference-in-differences model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    15. Long Qian & Xiaolin Xu & Yunjie Zhou & Ying Sun & Duoliang Ma, 2023. "Carbon Emission Reduction Effects of the Smart City Pilot Policy in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-24, March.
    16. Che, Shuai & Wang, Jun & Chen, Honghang, 2023. "Can China's decentralized energy governance reduce carbon emissions? Evidence from new energy demonstration cities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    17. Qi Cui & Xiaoyu Ma & Sisi Zhang, 2025. "The impact of green finance on energy saving and carbon reduction: evidence from Chinese cities," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 1-33, February.
    18. Ya-Nan Zhao & Chien-Chiang Lee, 2024. "How does industrial relocation affect carbon emissions? Evidence from Chinese cities," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(6), pages 1-33, December.
    19. Ge, Yihan & Yuan, Rong, 2024. "Exploring decoupling relationship between ICT investments and energy consumption in China's provinces: Factors and policy implications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    20. Charikleia Karakosta & Jason Papathanasiou, 2025. "Decarbonizing the Construction Sector: Strategies and Pathways for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-15, March.

    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:16:y:2024:i:14:p:5842-:d:1431599. 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.