Circularity in the construction of an element apartment building : Environmental Impact Assessment for Reusing a Facade Panel
Sevrin, Alexandre (2024)
Sevrin, Alexandre
2024
Master's Programme in Environmental Engineering
Tekniikan ja luonnontieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2024-02-01
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202401161516
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202401161516
Tiivistelmä
The generation and mismanagement of construction and demolition waste (CDW) has a significant impact on global warming and resource depletion. These impacts are expected to worsen as the global population grows, and demand for new buildings increases. Therefore, the need for a shift from the current linear economy towards a circular scheme is imperative.
The main objective of this thesis was to compare the environmental impact of constructing a new face panel versus reusing an existing facade panel. The comparison was based on a life cycle assessment (LCA). An existing panel in Tampere, Finland, built between 1950 and 1980, is theoretically adjusted to meet current regulations. The environmental impact of this reused panel was compared to constructing a new facade panel under three different scenarios: normal, passive, and zero-energy designs. Furthermore, the different materials composing the panel, such as steel and concrete, were analysed and compared to understand their impacts better. The results were presented in terms of global warming potential, water use, tropospheric ozone formation, mineral resource scarcity, and fossil resource scarcity.
The results indicate that from a global warming perspective, the construction of a new wall (normal: 307co2e, passive: 316co2e, zero-energy: 321co2e) has a higher environmental impact than reusing and updating an existing panel (normal: 61co2e, passive: 71co2e, zero-energy: 76co2e). Those results also indicate that the global warming potential for construction increases with the quantity of insulation used. Still, those impacts decrease when the energy use is considered and included during the use phase (new/normal: 2352co2e, new/passive: 1694co2e, new/zero-energy: 1506co2e, reused/normal: 2104co2e, reused/passive: 1448co2e, reused/zero-energy: 1260co2e). The type of design also significantly affects the remaining impact categories, which are significantly reduced when using a reused panel.
The largest environmental impact when constructing a new wall in a normal design scenario (307co2e) is caused by reinforced concrete (251co2e), with reinforcing steel (175co2e) responsible for the majority of it. Using 50% and 90% recycled steel reduces the total impact of the wall to 237co2e and 181co2e. Alternatively, reducing the quantity of steel by half lowers the global warming potential of the entire wall to 219co2e.
The results demonstrate the environmental benefits of reusing existing facade panels. Designers can promote their reuse in new designs and, moreover, analyse other building components using the same approach. Construction companies could lead the way in piloting the reuse of existing panels and developing designs that use less steel or incorporate recycled materials.
The main objective of this thesis was to compare the environmental impact of constructing a new face panel versus reusing an existing facade panel. The comparison was based on a life cycle assessment (LCA). An existing panel in Tampere, Finland, built between 1950 and 1980, is theoretically adjusted to meet current regulations. The environmental impact of this reused panel was compared to constructing a new facade panel under three different scenarios: normal, passive, and zero-energy designs. Furthermore, the different materials composing the panel, such as steel and concrete, were analysed and compared to understand their impacts better. The results were presented in terms of global warming potential, water use, tropospheric ozone formation, mineral resource scarcity, and fossil resource scarcity.
The results indicate that from a global warming perspective, the construction of a new wall (normal: 307co2e, passive: 316co2e, zero-energy: 321co2e) has a higher environmental impact than reusing and updating an existing panel (normal: 61co2e, passive: 71co2e, zero-energy: 76co2e). Those results also indicate that the global warming potential for construction increases with the quantity of insulation used. Still, those impacts decrease when the energy use is considered and included during the use phase (new/normal: 2352co2e, new/passive: 1694co2e, new/zero-energy: 1506co2e, reused/normal: 2104co2e, reused/passive: 1448co2e, reused/zero-energy: 1260co2e). The type of design also significantly affects the remaining impact categories, which are significantly reduced when using a reused panel.
The largest environmental impact when constructing a new wall in a normal design scenario (307co2e) is caused by reinforced concrete (251co2e), with reinforcing steel (175co2e) responsible for the majority of it. Using 50% and 90% recycled steel reduces the total impact of the wall to 237co2e and 181co2e. Alternatively, reducing the quantity of steel by half lowers the global warming potential of the entire wall to 219co2e.
The results demonstrate the environmental benefits of reusing existing facade panels. Designers can promote their reuse in new designs and, moreover, analyse other building components using the same approach. Construction companies could lead the way in piloting the reuse of existing panels and developing designs that use less steel or incorporate recycled materials.