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

Author

Listed:
  • Diana Carolina Gámez-García

    (Barcelona School of Architecture, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, 649 Diagonal Avenue, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Héctor Saldaña-Márquez

    (Barcelona School of Architecture, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, 649 Diagonal Avenue, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • José Manuel Gómez-Soberón

    (Barcelona School of Building Construction, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, 44-50 Doctor Marañón Avenue, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Susana Paola Arredondo-Rea

    (Mochis Faculty of Engineering, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, no number Fuente de Poseidón y Ángel Flores, Los Mochis 81210, Mexico)

  • María Consolación Gómez-Soberón

    (Civil Engineering School, Metropolitan Autonomous University. Av. San Pablo 180, Mexico City 02200, Mexico)

  • Ramón Corral-Higuera

    (Mochis Faculty of Engineering, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, no number Fuente de Poseidón y Ángel Flores, Los Mochis 81210, Mexico)

Abstract

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 2 eq/m 2 and consumes 3911 MJ eq/m 2 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Diana Carolina Gámez-García & Héctor Saldaña-Márquez & José Manuel Gómez-Soberón & Susana Paola Arredondo-Rea & María Consolación Gómez-Soberón & Ramón Corral-Higuera, 2019. "Environmental Challenges in the Residential Sector: Life Cycle Assessment of Mexican Social Housing," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-24, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:14:p:2837-:d:250955
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Silvia Vilčeková & Monika Čuláková & Eva Krídlová Burdová & Jana Katunská, 2015. "Energy and Environmental Evaluation of Non-Transparent Constructions of Building Envelope for Wooden Houses," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-29, October.
    2. Lei, Jiawei & Yang, Jinglei & Yang, En-Hua, 2016. "Energy performance of building envelopes integrated with phase change materials for cooling load reduction in tropical Singapore," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 207-217.
    3. Daniel Hoornweg & Natalie Giannelli, 2007. "Managing Municipal Solid Waste in Latin America and the Caribbean : Integrating the Private Sector, Harnessing Incentives," World Bank Publications - Reports 10639, The World Bank Group.
    4. Buyle, Matthias & Braet, Johan & Audenaert, Amaryllis, 2013. "Life cycle assessment in the construction sector: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 379-388.
    5. Diana Carolina Gámez-García & José Manuel Gómez-Soberón & Ramón Corral-Higuera & Héctor Saldaña-Márquez & María Consolación Gómez-Soberón & Susana Paola Arredondo-Rea, 2018. "A Cradle to Handover Life Cycle Assessment of External Walls: Choice of Materials and Prognosis of Elements," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-24, August.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mihail Busu, 2019. "The Role of Renewables in a Low-Carbon Society: Evidence from a Multivariate Panel Data Analysis at the EU Level," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-16, September.
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