Embodied Energy and Embodied GWP of Windows: A Critical Review
The construction sector is one of the most energy-intensive in the industrialized countries. In order to limit climate change emissions throughout the entire life cycle of a building, in addition to reducing energy consumption in the operational phase, attention should also be paid to the embodied e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/13/3788 |
| _version_ | 1797528991124422656 |
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| author | Francesco Asdrubali Marta Roncone Gianluca Grazieschi |
| author_facet | Francesco Asdrubali Marta Roncone Gianluca Grazieschi |
| author_sort | Francesco Asdrubali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The construction sector is one of the most energy-intensive in the industrialized countries. In order to limit climate change emissions throughout the entire life cycle of a building, in addition to reducing energy consumption in the operational phase, attention should also be paid to the embodied energy and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions of the building itself. The purpose of this work is to review data on embodied energy and GWP derived from EPDs of different types of windows, to identify the LCA phases, the most impacting materials and processes from an environmental point of view and to perform a critical analysis of the outcomes. The results show a strong dependence on the typology of the frame, with wooden windows having competitive performances: lower average primary energy non-renewable (1123 MJ/FU), higher average primary energy renewable (respectively 817 MJ/FU) and lower global warming potential (54 kgCO<sub>2</sub>eq/FU). More transparency and standardization in the information conveyed by the program operators is, however, desirable for a better comparability of windows performances. In particular, the inclusion of the operational impact in the EPD is sporadic, but strongly important, since it can be the most impactful phase. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:07:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fb456fe469b94b7792fd9a04733b1e95 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:07:05Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-fb456fe469b94b7792fd9a04733b1e952023-11-22T01:30:25ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-06-011413378810.3390/en14133788Embodied Energy and Embodied GWP of Windows: A Critical ReviewFrancesco Asdrubali0Marta Roncone1Gianluca Grazieschi2Department of Engineering, Roma Tre University, 00146 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Engineering, Roma Tre University, 00146 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Engineering, Roma Tre University, 00146 Rome, ItalyThe construction sector is one of the most energy-intensive in the industrialized countries. In order to limit climate change emissions throughout the entire life cycle of a building, in addition to reducing energy consumption in the operational phase, attention should also be paid to the embodied energy and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions of the building itself. The purpose of this work is to review data on embodied energy and GWP derived from EPDs of different types of windows, to identify the LCA phases, the most impacting materials and processes from an environmental point of view and to perform a critical analysis of the outcomes. The results show a strong dependence on the typology of the frame, with wooden windows having competitive performances: lower average primary energy non-renewable (1123 MJ/FU), higher average primary energy renewable (respectively 817 MJ/FU) and lower global warming potential (54 kgCO<sub>2</sub>eq/FU). More transparency and standardization in the information conveyed by the program operators is, however, desirable for a better comparability of windows performances. In particular, the inclusion of the operational impact in the EPD is sporadic, but strongly important, since it can be the most impactful phase.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/13/3788Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)windowslife cycle assessment (LCA)environmental impact |
| spellingShingle | Francesco Asdrubali Marta Roncone Gianluca Grazieschi Embodied Energy and Embodied GWP of Windows: A Critical Review Energies Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) windows life cycle assessment (LCA) environmental impact |
| title | Embodied Energy and Embodied GWP of Windows: A Critical Review |
| title_full | Embodied Energy and Embodied GWP of Windows: A Critical Review |
| title_fullStr | Embodied Energy and Embodied GWP of Windows: A Critical Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Embodied Energy and Embodied GWP of Windows: A Critical Review |
| title_short | Embodied Energy and Embodied GWP of Windows: A Critical Review |
| title_sort | embodied energy and embodied gwp of windows a critical review |
| topic | Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) windows life cycle assessment (LCA) environmental impact |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/13/3788 |
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