Assessment of Sustainability and Efficiency Metrics in Modern Methods of Construction: A Case Study Using a Life Cycle Assessment Approach

Héctor Hernández (), Felipe Ossio and Michael Silva
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Héctor Hernández: Escuela de Construcción Civil, Facultad de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 306, Correo 22, Santiago 8331150, Chile
Felipe Ossio: Escuela de Construcción Civil, Facultad de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 306, Correo 22, Santiago 8331150, Chile
Michael Silva: Escuela de Ingeniería, Facultad de Ingeniería y Arquitectura, Universidad Central de Chile, Av. Santa Isabel 1186, Santiago 8370178, Chile

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-25

Abstract: The construction industry faces various sustainability challenges, and modern methods of construction (MMC) have been promoted as an effective alternative to mitigate environmental impact and improve productivity. However, to gain a thorough understanding of the benefits, there is a need for more objective data. To address this, the present study employs a simplified life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate a set of environmental and efficiency metrics in a case study. The study aims to demonstrate the benefits of using an MMC known as the “VAP system” by comparing it with its conventional counterpart built with reinforced masonry. Adopting the MMC resulted in significant reductions in embodied carbon (EC) and embodied energy (EE) related to materials, as well as a reduction in global warming potential (GWP), cumulative energy demand (CED), and construction waste. Additionally, it shortened delivery times and increased labor productivity. Furthermore, when both local and European parameters were considered in the evaluation, the percentage of materials circularity (PMC) was higher. The study concludes that the adoption of the MMC leads to higher sustainability by reducing carbon emissions, minimizing construction waste, and conserving resources. This research has significant implications for promoting the adoption of MMC globally, leading to more sustainable and efficient construction practices.

Keywords: life-cycle assessment (LCA); building material circularity; modern methods of construction (MMC); embodied energy (EE); embodied carbon (EC); construction waste; masonry; labor-productivity; off-site construction (OSC); global warming potential (GWP) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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