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The Carbon Emission Assessment of a Building with Different Prefabrication Rates in the Construction Stage

Author

Listed:
  • Qingye Han

    (School of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

  • Junjie Chang

    (School of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

  • Guiwen Liu

    (School of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

  • Heng Zhang

    (School of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

Abstract

The utilization of prefabricated components is taken as a potential way to reduce carbon emissions from the construction industry, and the prefabrication rate may be a factor that influences the mitigation efficiency. This study develops an assessment method to compare carbon emissions of a building in the construction stage when it is built with multiple different prefabrication rates. Firstly, two carbon sources (building materials and machineries) and three construction sub-phases (production of materials and components, transportation, and on-site construction) are determined to clarify the calculation boundary. Then, a carbon emission measurement model for prefabricated buildings in the construction stage is developed by using a process-based method. A dormitory building in Chongqing, China, is selected to conduct a case study to show the application of the provided model. The result shows that the carbon emission of prefabricated buildings is higher compared to that of traditional cast-in situ buildings. Moreover, the emission of prefabricated buildings decreased slightly with the increase in the prefabrication rate. A detailed discussion is followed to investigate the reason why the carbon emission does not decrease with the utilization of prefabricated units. Based on the discussion, some suggestions are given to improve the carbon emission reduction efficiency of prefabrication techniques.

Suggested Citation

  • Qingye Han & Junjie Chang & Guiwen Liu & Heng Zhang, 2022. "The Carbon Emission Assessment of a Building with Different Prefabrication Rates in the Construction Stage," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:2366-:d:752720
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hui Liu & Nazirah Zainul Abidin, 2024. "A Review on Research of Prefabricated Building Costs: Exploring Collaborations, Intellectual Basis, and Research Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-30, November.
    2. Qianqian Shi & Ziyu Wang & Boya Li & Marcel Hertogh & Shuyi Wang, 2022. "Evolutionary Analysis of Prefabrication Implementation in Construction Projects under Low-Carbon Policies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Xu, Meijia & Chang, Yuan & Wei, Ying & Wang, Yafei & Zhang, Pengpeng & Huang, Zhiye, 2023. "Quantification and spatial pattern of embodied CO2 footprint of prefabricated buildings in urban agglomerations: A case study of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    4. Yan Wang & Xi Wu, 2022. "Research on High-Quality Development Evaluation, Space–Time Characteristics and Driving Factors of China’s Construction Industry under Carbon Emission Constraints," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, August.
    5. Ravijanya Chippagiri & Ana Bras & Deepak Sharma & Rahul V. Ralegaonkar, 2022. "Technological and Sustainable Perception on the Advancements of Prefabrication in Construction Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-19, October.

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