Embodied Energy and Embodied GWP of Windows: A Critical Review

Francesco Asdrubali, Marta Roncone and Gianluca Grazieschi
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Francesco Asdrubali: Department of Engineering, Roma Tre University, 00146 Rome, Italy
Marta Roncone: Department of Engineering, Roma Tre University, 00146 Rome, Italy
Gianluca Grazieschi: Department of Engineering, Roma Tre University, 00146 Rome, Italy

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 13, 1-17

Abstract: The construction sector is one of the most energy-intensive in the industrialized countries. In order to limit climate change emissions throughout the entire life cycle of a building, in addition to reducing energy consumption in the operational phase, attention should also be paid to the embodied energy and CO 2 emissions of the building itself. The purpose of this work is to review data on embodied energy and GWP derived from EPDs of different types of windows, to identify the LCA phases, the most impacting materials and processes from an environmental point of view and to perform a critical analysis of the outcomes. The results show a strong dependence on the typology of the frame, with wooden windows having competitive performances: lower average primary energy non-renewable (1123 MJ/FU), higher average primary energy renewable (respectively 817 MJ/FU) and lower global warming potential (54 kgCO 2 eq/FU). More transparency and standardization in the information conveyed by the program operators is, however, desirable for a better comparability of windows performances. In particular, the inclusion of the operational impact in the EPD is sporadic, but strongly important, since it can be the most impactful phase.

Keywords: Environmental Product Declarations (EPD); windows; life cycle assessment (LCA); environmental impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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