Comparison of the Applied Measures on the Simulated Scenarios for the Sustainable Building Construction through Carbon Footprint Emissions—Case Study of Building Construction in Serbia

Marina Nikolić Topalović, Milenko Stanković, Goran Ćirović and Dragan Pamučar
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Marina Nikolić Topalović: University College of Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Belgrade 1046, Serbia
Milenko Stanković: Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Faculty of Architecture, University of Banja Luka, Vojvode Stepe 77, Banja Luka 78000, Republika Srpska, Bosna i Hercegovina
Goran Ćirović: University College of Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Belgrade 1046, Serbia
Dragan Pamučar: Department of Logistics, Military Academy, University of Defense in Belgrade, Pavla Jurisica Sturma 33, Belgrade 11000, Serbia

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: Research was conducted to indicate the impact of the increased flow of thermal insulation materials on the environment due to the implementation of the new regulations on energy efficiency of buildings. The regulations on energy efficiency of buildings in Serbia came into force on 30 September 2012 for all new buildings as well as for buildings in the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction. For that purpose, the carbon footprint was analyzed in three scenarios (BS, S1 and S2) for which the quantities of construction materials and processes were calculated. The life cycle analysis (LCA), which is the basis for analyzing the carbon life cycle (LCACO 2 ), was used in this study. Carbon Calculator was used for measuring carbon footprint, and URSA program to calculate the operational energy. This study was done in two phases. In Phase 1, the embodied carbon was measured to evaluate short-term effects of the implementation of the new regulations. Phase 2 included the first 10 years of building exploitation to evaluate the long-term effects of the new regulations. The analysis was done for the period of 10 years, further adjustments to the regulations regarding energy efficiency of the buildings in Serbia are expected in accordance with EU directives. The study shows that, in the short-run, Scenario BS has the lowest embodied carbon. In the long-run, after 3.66 years, Scenario S2 becomes a better option regarding the impact on the environment. The study reveals the necessity to include embodied carbon together with the whole life carbon to estimation the impact of a building on the environment.

Keywords: thermal insulation materials; energy rating; embodied carbon; whole life carbon; total carbon footprint; LCA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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