Life cycle energy use and carbon emission of a modern single-family residential building in Nepal
The rapid urbanization and rural-urban migration trends have led to an increase in building construction activities, shifting from traditional practices to modern concrete structures. However, this transition has imposed significant environmental pressures, including heightened resource and energy d...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Current Research in Environmental Sustainability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049024000057 |
| _version_ | 1797295731669729280 |
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| author | Ajay Kumar K.C. Anish Ghimire Bikash Adhikari Hitesh Raj Pant Bijay Thapa Bivek Baral |
| author_facet | Ajay Kumar K.C. Anish Ghimire Bikash Adhikari Hitesh Raj Pant Bijay Thapa Bivek Baral |
| author_sort | Ajay Kumar K.C. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The rapid urbanization and rural-urban migration trends have led to an increase in building construction activities, shifting from traditional practices to modern concrete structures. However, this transition has imposed significant environmental pressures, including heightened resource and energy demands, resulting in increased emissions. To gauge the environmental impact of construction, a thorough examination of each phase is crucial. This study used the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool, based on ISO 14040:2006, ISO 14044:2006, and EN 15978:2011, to evaluate the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) emissions throughout the complete life cycle of a modern single-family residential building. The findings reveal a total energy use of 6411.33 MJ per square meter and emissions of 718.35 kg CO2-eq per square meter over the building's lifespan of 50 years. Notably, the production of building materials and the construction phase contribute to the highest percentage (60.29%) of the total life cycle emissions owing to 49.51% of energy use. In contrast, emissions during the operational phase are relatively lower, attributed to increased electricity usage for cooking and minimal energy consumption for heating and cooling. Additionally, the study suggests that achieving complete electricity sufficiency within the country could reduce building emissions by 39.30%, as fossil fuel-based imports from India would be replaced with cleaner hydroelectricity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T21:53:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-48ac3de93fa9419092e53808533a9280 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-0490 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T21:53:10Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Research in Environmental Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj.art-48ac3de93fa9419092e53808533a92802024-02-25T04:36:26ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Environmental Sustainability2666-04902024-01-017100245Life cycle energy use and carbon emission of a modern single-family residential building in NepalAjay Kumar K.C.0Anish Ghimire1Bikash Adhikari2Hitesh Raj Pant3Bijay Thapa4Bivek Baral5Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal; Corresponding author.Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal; Environmental Engineering and Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, ThailandDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, NepalSoil, Water and Air Testing Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, NepalDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal; Environmental Engineering and Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand; Soil, Water and Air Testing Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal; EnergizeNepal Program, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal; Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Kathmandu University, NepalDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Kathmandu University, NepalThe rapid urbanization and rural-urban migration trends have led to an increase in building construction activities, shifting from traditional practices to modern concrete structures. However, this transition has imposed significant environmental pressures, including heightened resource and energy demands, resulting in increased emissions. To gauge the environmental impact of construction, a thorough examination of each phase is crucial. This study used the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool, based on ISO 14040:2006, ISO 14044:2006, and EN 15978:2011, to evaluate the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) emissions throughout the complete life cycle of a modern single-family residential building. The findings reveal a total energy use of 6411.33 MJ per square meter and emissions of 718.35 kg CO2-eq per square meter over the building's lifespan of 50 years. Notably, the production of building materials and the construction phase contribute to the highest percentage (60.29%) of the total life cycle emissions owing to 49.51% of energy use. In contrast, emissions during the operational phase are relatively lower, attributed to increased electricity usage for cooking and minimal energy consumption for heating and cooling. Additionally, the study suggests that achieving complete electricity sufficiency within the country could reduce building emissions by 39.30%, as fossil fuel-based imports from India would be replaced with cleaner hydroelectricity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049024000057Life cycle assessmentEmbodied energyGreenhouse gasCO2-eq emissionResidential building |
| spellingShingle | Ajay Kumar K.C. Anish Ghimire Bikash Adhikari Hitesh Raj Pant Bijay Thapa Bivek Baral Life cycle energy use and carbon emission of a modern single-family residential building in Nepal Current Research in Environmental Sustainability Life cycle assessment Embodied energy Greenhouse gas CO2-eq emission Residential building |
| title | Life cycle energy use and carbon emission of a modern single-family residential building in Nepal |
| title_full | Life cycle energy use and carbon emission of a modern single-family residential building in Nepal |
| title_fullStr | Life cycle energy use and carbon emission of a modern single-family residential building in Nepal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Life cycle energy use and carbon emission of a modern single-family residential building in Nepal |
| title_short | Life cycle energy use and carbon emission of a modern single-family residential building in Nepal |
| title_sort | life cycle energy use and carbon emission of a modern single family residential building in nepal |
| topic | Life cycle assessment Embodied energy Greenhouse gas CO2-eq emission Residential building |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049024000057 |
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