A comparison of the sustainability of common construction materials : Based on embodied carbon data and materials specification of a single-family house.

Abstract

In the light of the modern age global concerns for environmental issues, specifically global warming, this thesis purports to sketch a material profile of traditional structural construction materials – concrete, wood, fired clay bricks and steel – based on a specification of a single-family house. It calculates materials’ embodied carbon, reviewing other sustainability parameters as well, such as recycling potential and fire resistance. The thesis also explores options of substitution with more carbon neutral materials, revealing other possible benefits. Each study displays the origins of materials’ burden on the environment and is focused on an owner-builder’s view on single-family house construction. The building’s embodied carbon totaled at 208 tonnes. Fired clay bricks displayed the largest share of this value – 98 tonnes of carbon dioxide. 67 t of CO2 were contributed by concrete, 40 t by steel and 3 t by wood. Wood’s sustainability depends on its source – the specific forest. Therefore, this part of the study is based on evaluation of two largest forest certification programs – PEFC and FSC. The latter is concluded to be a more reliable one. A number of alternative materials is presented in this paper, with estimates of potential carbon emissions savings. They include blended and geopolymer cements, engineered wood products (CLT), AAC blocks, CEBs and straw bales. All of them potentially cut the building’s embodied carbon drastically, without compromising the performance. General recommendations for sustainable material selection are provided.