This covers challenges of reducing emissions from building construction, operation and maintenance while also presenting an array of potential solutions.
In the U.S., about 50% of total CO2 emissions stem from the built environment (e.g., building construction, operation [heating, lighting, cooling], and end-of-life) (EPA 2012).
The economic effects of building, maintaining and operating settlements are attributed to building construction, building operation, public infrastructure construction and operation as well as external effects (primarily related to mobility).
First, the life-cycle carbon efficiency of a residential building is defined as the ratio of its life-cycle value to carbon emission, and the life-cycle of a residential building is divided into five stages, including construction materials preparation, building construction, building operation, building demolition, and construction & demolition wastes disposal.
These human-generated gases derive in part from aspects of the built environment such as transportation systems and infrastructure, building construction and operation, and land-use planning.
It evaluates the effect of selected alternative wall assemblages on environmental impacts and life cycle cost over the various life stages of buildings (i.e. construction, operations, maintenance and final disposal).
The process of building construction is chronologically located between both the design and the operation phases.
New regulations in many U.S. states and municipalities provide further motivation in the form of energy disclosure ordinances or tax incentives for sustainable construction and building operations.
