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Life Cycle Environmental Sustainability and Energy Assessment of Timber Wall Construction: A Comprehensive Overview

Author

Listed:
  • Rabaka Sultana

    (College of Engineering, IT & Environment, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia)

  • Ahmad Rashedi

    (College of Engineering, IT & Environment, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia)

  • Taslima Khanam

    (College of Engineering, IT & Environment, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia)

  • Byongug Jeong

    (Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 100 Montrose Street, Glasgow G4 0LZ, UK)

  • Homa Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha

    (Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj 31587-77871, Iran)

  • Majid Hussain

    (Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Haripur, Haripur City 21120, Pakistan)

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive overview of the life cycle environmental and energy assessment for all residential and commercial constructions made of timber walls, globally. The study was carried out based on a systematic literature analysis conducted on the Scopus database. A total of 66 research articles were relevant to timber wall design. Among these, the residential construction sector received more attention than the commercial sector, while the low-rise construction (1–2 stories) gained more attention than high-rise construction (>5 stories). Most of these studies were conducted in Canada, Europe, Malaysia, and the USA. In addition, the end-of-life phase received limited attention compared to upstream phases in most of the studies. We compared all environmental and energy-based life cycle impacts that used “m 2 ” as the functional unit; this group represented 21 research articles. Global warming potential was understandably the most studied life cycle environmental impact category followed by acidification, eutrophication, embodied energy, photochemical oxidation, and abiotic depletion. In terms of global warming impact, the external walls of low-rise buildings emit 18 to 702 kg CO 2 kg eq./m 2 , while the internal walls of the same emit 11 kg CO 2 kg eq./m 2 . In turn, the walls of high-rise buildings carry 114.3 to 227.3 kg CO 2 kg eq./m 2 in terms of global warming impact. The review highlights variations in timber wall designs and the environmental impact of these variations, together with different system boundaries and varying building lifetimes, as covered in various articles. Finally, a few recommendations have been offered at the end of the article for future researchers of this domain.

Suggested Citation

  • Rabaka Sultana & Ahmad Rashedi & Taslima Khanam & Byongug Jeong & Homa Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha & Majid Hussain, 2022. "Life Cycle Environmental Sustainability and Energy Assessment of Timber Wall Construction: A Comprehensive Overview," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-30, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:7:p:4161-:d:784247
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Henriette Fischer & Martin Aichholzer & Azra Korjenic, 2023. "Ecological Potential of Building Components in Multi-Storey Residential Construction: A Comparative Case Study between an Existing Concrete and a Timber Building in Austria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Shin, Bigyeong & Chang, Seong Jin & Wi, Seunghwan & Kim, Sumin, 2023. "Estimation of energy demand and greenhouse gas emission reduction effect of cross-laminated timber (CLT) hybrid wall using life cycle assessment for urban residential planning," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    3. Kofi Armah Boakye-Yiadom & Alessio Ilari & Daniele Duca, 2022. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Life Cycle Assessment on the Black Soldier Fly ( Hermetia illucens L.)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-29, August.
    4. Maaz Hassan & Naveed Usman & Majid Hussain & Adnan Yousaf & Muhammad Aamad Khattak & Sidra Yousaf & Rankeshwarnath Sanjay Mishr & Sana Ahmad & Fariha Rehman & Ahmad Rashedi, 2023. "Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment of Biomass Pellets Biofuel in Hazara Division, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, August.
    5. Tehseen Ahmad & Majid Hussain & Mudassar Iqbal & Ashfaq Ali & Wajiha Manzoor & Hamida Bibi & Shamsher Ali & Fariha Rehman & Ahmad Rashedi & Muhammad Amin & Anila Tabassum & Ghulam Raza & Dilawar Farha, 2022. "Environmental, Energy, and Water Footprints of Marble Tile Production Chain in a Life Cycle Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-20, July.

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