Material Sustainability of Low-Energy Housing Electric Components: A Systematic Literature Review and Outlook

Francisco A. Carrasco () and Johanna F. May
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Francisco A. Carrasco: Cologne Institute for Renewable Energy (CIRE), Technische Hochschule Köln, 50679 Cologne, Germany
Johanna F. May: Cologne Institute for Renewable Energy (CIRE), Technische Hochschule Köln, 50679 Cologne, Germany

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-21

Abstract: As part of the energy transition, near-Zero-Energy-Buildings use electric systems that reduce emissions and consumption. Nevertheless, the increased use of such systems comes with the E-waste challenge. Circular Economy concepts try to make more efficient use of these materials, but sustainable evaluations mainly focus on energy and emissions. The developed automated text analysis tool quantifies the appearance of circularity concepts in open-access literature about different stages of production, use, and end-of-life for heat pumps, Lithium-Ion batteries, photovoltaic modules, and inverters. The energy focus is corroborated in different amounts depending on the component and stage, and when circularity concepts appear, they are centred on waste and recycling. Numerical variables to model environmental impact available in open-access literature are limited, generalised, or present in a wide range. Access to product environmental specifications should be encouraged to ensure that energy transition is sustainable in all its dimensions.

Keywords: Circular Economy; sustainable energy; photovoltaic systems; heat pumps; sustainable evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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