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The Environmental Impacts of Façade Renovation: A Case Study of an Office Building

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  • Patrik Štompf

    (Department of Wooden Constructions, Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology, Technical University in Zvolen, 960 01 Zvolen, Slovakia)

  • Rozália Vaňová

    (Department of Wooden Constructions, Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology, Technical University in Zvolen, 960 01 Zvolen, Slovakia)

  • Stanislav Jochim

    (Department of Wooden Constructions, Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology, Technical University in Zvolen, 960 01 Zvolen, Slovakia)

Abstract

Renovating existing buildings is a key strategy for achieving the EU’s climate targets, as over 75% of the current building stock is energy inefficient. This study evaluates the environmental impacts of three façade renovation scenarios for an office building at the Technical University in Zvolen (Slovakia) using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. The aim is to quantify and compare these impacts based on material selection and its influence on sustainable construction. The analysis focuses on key environmental indicators, including global warming potential (GWP), abiotic depletion (ADE, ADF), ozone depletion (ODP), toxicity, acidification (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), and primary energy use (PERT, PENRT). The scenarios vary in the use of insulation materials (glass wool, wood fibre, mineral wool), façade finishes (cladding vs. render), and window types (aluminium vs. wood–aluminium). Uncertainty analysis identified GWP, AP, and ODP as robust decision-making categories, while toxicity-related results showed lower reliability. To support integrated and transparent comparison, a composite environmental index (CEI) was developed, aggregating characterisation, normalisation, and mass-based results into a single score. Scenario C–2, featuring an ETICS system with mineral wool insulation and wood–aluminium windows, achieved the lowest environmental impact across all categories. In contrast, scenarios with traditional cladding and aluminium windows showed significantly higher impacts, particularly in fossil fuel use and ecotoxicity. The findings underscore the decisive role of material selection in sustainable renovation and the need for a multi-criteria, context-sensitive approach aligned with architectural, functional, and regional priorities.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrik Štompf & Rozália Vaňová & Stanislav Jochim, 2025. "The Environmental Impacts of Façade Renovation: A Case Study of an Office Building," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-24, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6766-:d:1709644
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marco A. Bragadin & Luca Guardigli & Mattia Calistri & Annarita Ferrante, 2023. "Demolishing or Renovating? Life Cycle Analysis in the Design Process for Building Renovation: The ProGETonE Case," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, May.
    2. Gao, Jinqi & Lu, Fan, 2025. "Evaluating green policies: A comparative analysis of subsidies and public procurement in green transition," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 1675-1694.
    3. Katerina Sojkova & Martin Volf & Antonin Lupisek & Roman Bolliger & Tomas Vachal, 2019. "Selection of Favourable Concept of Energy Retrofitting Solution for Social Housing in the Czech Republic Based on Economic Parameters, Greenhouse Gases, and Primary Energy Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-26, November.
    4. Fahlstedt, Oskar & Rasmussen, Freja Nygaard & Temeljotov-Salaj, Alenka & Huang, Lizhen & Bohne, Rolf André, 2024. "Building renovations and life cycle assessment - A scoping literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    5. Fahlstedt, Oskar & Temeljotov-Salaj, Alenka & Lohne, Jardar & Bohne, Rolf André, 2022. "Holistic assessment of carbon abatement strategies in building refurbishment literature — A scoping review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    6. Vidhyalakshmi Chandrasekaran & Jolanta Dvarioniene & Ausrine Vitkute & Giedrius Gecevicius, 2021. "Environmental Impact Assessment of Renovated Multi-Apartment Building Using LCA Approach: Case Study from Lithuania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-18, February.
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