Environmental Challenges in the Residential Sector: Life Cycle Assessment of Mexican Social Housing

Social Housing (SH) in Mexico has a potentially important role in reducing both the emission of greenhouse gases and the use of non-renewable resources, two of the main challenges facing not only Mexico but the planet as a whole. This work assesses the environmental impact generated by the embodied...

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Main Authors: Diana Carolina Gámez-García, Héctor Saldaña-Márquez, José Manuel Gómez-Soberón, Susana Paola Arredondo-Rea, María Consolación Gómez-Soberón, Ramón Corral-Higuera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-07-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/14/2837
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author Diana Carolina Gámez-García
Héctor Saldaña-Márquez
José Manuel Gómez-Soberón
Susana Paola Arredondo-Rea
María Consolación Gómez-Soberón
Ramón Corral-Higuera
author_facet Diana Carolina Gámez-García
Héctor Saldaña-Márquez
José Manuel Gómez-Soberón
Susana Paola Arredondo-Rea
María Consolación Gómez-Soberón
Ramón Corral-Higuera
author_sort Diana Carolina Gámez-García
collection DOAJ
description Social Housing (SH) in Mexico has a potentially important role in reducing both the emission of greenhouse gases and the use of non-renewable resources, two of the main challenges facing not only Mexico but the planet as a whole. This work assesses the environmental impact generated by the embodied stages of a typical SH throughout its life cycle (cradle to grave), by means of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Two types of envelope and interior walls and three types of windows are compared. It was found that SH emits 309 kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq/m<sup>2</sup> and consumes 3911 MJ eq/m<sup>2</sup> in the product stages (A1 to A3) and construction process (A4 to A5); the most important stages are those referring to the products, namely, A1 to A3, B4 (replacement) and B2 (maintenance). Additionally, benefits were found in the use of lightweight and thermal materials, such as concrete blocks lightened with pumice or windows made of PVC or wood. Although the use of LCA is incipient in the housing and construction sector in Mexico, this work shows how its application is not only feasible but recommended as it may become a basic tool in the search for sustainability.
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spelling doaj.art-5e557563cf7c44df8be12e2bbda5b8212022-12-22T02:07:06ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732019-07-011214283710.3390/en12142837en12142837Environmental Challenges in the Residential Sector: Life Cycle Assessment of Mexican Social HousingDiana Carolina Gámez-García0Héctor Saldaña-Márquez1José Manuel Gómez-Soberón2Susana Paola Arredondo-Rea3María Consolación Gómez-Soberón4Ramón Corral-Higuera5Barcelona School of Architecture, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, 649 Diagonal Avenue, 08028 Barcelona, SpainBarcelona School of Architecture, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, 649 Diagonal Avenue, 08028 Barcelona, SpainBarcelona School of Building Construction, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, 44-50 Doctor Marañón Avenue, 08028 Barcelona, SpainMochis Faculty of Engineering, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, no number Fuente de Poseidón y Ángel Flores, Los Mochis 81210, MexicoCivil Engineering School, Metropolitan Autonomous University. Av. San Pablo 180, Mexico City 02200, MexicoMochis Faculty of Engineering, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, no number Fuente de Poseidón y Ángel Flores, Los Mochis 81210, MexicoSocial Housing (SH) in Mexico has a potentially important role in reducing both the emission of greenhouse gases and the use of non-renewable resources, two of the main challenges facing not only Mexico but the planet as a whole. This work assesses the environmental impact generated by the embodied stages of a typical SH throughout its life cycle (cradle to grave), by means of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Two types of envelope and interior walls and three types of windows are compared. It was found that SH emits 309 kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq/m<sup>2</sup> and consumes 3911 MJ eq/m<sup>2</sup> in the product stages (A1 to A3) and construction process (A4 to A5); the most important stages are those referring to the products, namely, A1 to A3, B4 (replacement) and B2 (maintenance). Additionally, benefits were found in the use of lightweight and thermal materials, such as concrete blocks lightened with pumice or windows made of PVC or wood. Although the use of LCA is incipient in the housing and construction sector in Mexico, this work shows how its application is not only feasible but recommended as it may become a basic tool in the search for sustainability.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/14/2837life cycle assessmentsocial housingembodied stagesembodied energyembodied greenhouse gasesresidential sectorLatin America and the Caribbean
spellingShingle Diana Carolina Gámez-García
Héctor Saldaña-Márquez
José Manuel Gómez-Soberón
Susana Paola Arredondo-Rea
María Consolación Gómez-Soberón
Ramón Corral-Higuera
Environmental Challenges in the Residential Sector: Life Cycle Assessment of Mexican Social Housing
Energies
life cycle assessment
social housing
embodied stages
embodied energy
embodied greenhouse gases
residential sector
Latin America and the Caribbean
title Environmental Challenges in the Residential Sector: Life Cycle Assessment of Mexican Social Housing
title_full Environmental Challenges in the Residential Sector: Life Cycle Assessment of Mexican Social Housing
title_fullStr Environmental Challenges in the Residential Sector: Life Cycle Assessment of Mexican Social Housing
title_full_unstemmed Environmental Challenges in the Residential Sector: Life Cycle Assessment of Mexican Social Housing
title_short Environmental Challenges in the Residential Sector: Life Cycle Assessment of Mexican Social Housing
title_sort environmental challenges in the residential sector life cycle assessment of mexican social housing
topic life cycle assessment
social housing
embodied stages
embodied energy
embodied greenhouse gases
residential sector
Latin America and the Caribbean
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/14/2837
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