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Variability in energy and carbon dioxide balances of wood and concrete building materials

Abstract

A variety of factors affect the energy and CO{sub 2} balances of building materials over their lifecycle. Previous studies have shown that the use of wood for construction generally results in lower energy use and CO{sub 2} emission than does the use of concrete. To determine the uncertainties of this generality, we studied the changes in energy and CO{sub 2} balances caused by variation of key parameters in the manufacture and use of the materials comprising a wood- and a concrete-framed building. Parameters considered were clinker production efficiency, blending of cement, crushing of aggregate, recycling of steel, lumber drying efficiency, material transportation distance, carbon intensity of fossil fuel, recovery of logging, sawmill, construction and demolition residues for biofuel, and growth and exploitation of surplus forest not needed for wood material production. We found the materials of the wood-framed building had lower energy and CO{sub 2} balances than those of the concrete-framed building in all cases but one. Recovery of demolition and wood processing residues for use in place of fossil fuels contributed most significantly to the lower energy and CO{sub 2} balances of wood-framed building materials. We conclude that the use of wood building material instead of concrete, coupled with  More>>
Authors:
Gustavsson, Leif; Sathre, Roger [1] 
  1. Ecotechnology, Mid Sweden University, SE-831 25 OEstersund (Sweden)
Publication Date:
Jul 15, 2006
Product Type:
Journal Article
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: Building and Environment; Journal Volume: 41; Journal Issue: 7; Other Information: Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; BUILDINGS; BUILDING MATERIALS; LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; AIR POLLUTION; CARBON DIOXIDE; ENERGY CONSUMPTION
OSTI ID:
20730538
Country of Origin:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Journal ID: ISSN 0360-1323; BUENDB; TRN: GB06V0543
Availability:
Available from doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.04.008
Submitting Site:
GB
Size:
page(s) 940-951
Announcement Date:
Jun 19, 2006

Citation Formats

Gustavsson, Leif, and Sathre, Roger. Variability in energy and carbon dioxide balances of wood and concrete building materials. United Kingdom: N. p., 2006. Web. doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.04.008.
Gustavsson, Leif, & Sathre, Roger. Variability in energy and carbon dioxide balances of wood and concrete building materials. United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.04.008
Gustavsson, Leif, and Sathre, Roger. 2006. "Variability in energy and carbon dioxide balances of wood and concrete building materials." United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.04.008.
@misc{etde_20730538,
title = {Variability in energy and carbon dioxide balances of wood and concrete building materials}
author = {Gustavsson, Leif, and Sathre, Roger}
abstractNote = {A variety of factors affect the energy and CO{sub 2} balances of building materials over their lifecycle. Previous studies have shown that the use of wood for construction generally results in lower energy use and CO{sub 2} emission than does the use of concrete. To determine the uncertainties of this generality, we studied the changes in energy and CO{sub 2} balances caused by variation of key parameters in the manufacture and use of the materials comprising a wood- and a concrete-framed building. Parameters considered were clinker production efficiency, blending of cement, crushing of aggregate, recycling of steel, lumber drying efficiency, material transportation distance, carbon intensity of fossil fuel, recovery of logging, sawmill, construction and demolition residues for biofuel, and growth and exploitation of surplus forest not needed for wood material production. We found the materials of the wood-framed building had lower energy and CO{sub 2} balances than those of the concrete-framed building in all cases but one. Recovery of demolition and wood processing residues for use in place of fossil fuels contributed most significantly to the lower energy and CO{sub 2} balances of wood-framed building materials. We conclude that the use of wood building material instead of concrete, coupled with greater integration of wood by-products into energy systems, would be an effective means of reducing fossil fuel use and net CO{sub 2} emission to the atmosphere. (author)}
doi = {10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.04.008}
journal = []
issue = {7}
volume = {41}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {2006}
month = {Jul}
}