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Carbon Emissions during the Building Construction Phase: A Comprehensive Case Study of Construction Sites in Denmark

Author

Listed:
  • Kai Kanafani

    (Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, 2450 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Jonathan Magnes

    (Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, 2450 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Søren Munch Lindhard

    (Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, 2450 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Maria Balouktsi

    (Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, 2450 Copenhagen, Denmark)

Abstract

Buildings are major contributors of carbon emissions and related global warming. Emissions occur along all building stages, from a whole-life perspective, including material production, construction processes, building operations, maintenance and end-of-life processes. Upfront emissions include processes before building operations. They can be influenced immediately and will have a positive effect today. However, mitigation potentials during the construction stage are often overseen in research. This study presents an analysis of the carbon emissions of 61 Danish construction sites based on their energy consumption, waste production (module A5) and transport to site (A4). The results show carbon emissions for A4 of 0.28 and for A5 of 1.00 kgCO 2 e/m 2 gross floor area per year over 50 years. This is 13.47% of the Danish whole-life carbon reference of 9.50 kgCO 2 e/m 2 y, which includes the product stage (A1–3), replacements (B4), operational energy use (B6) and waste processes and disposal (C3–4). Almost half of the emissions are related to construction waste followed by electricity, heat and fuel. Floor area and building use have not shown to be influential for carbon emissions, suggesting other parameters are more important. The significance of modules A4 and A5 suggests implementing them in future whole-life carbon assessments and related policies. This paper also demonstrates the development of generic emission coefficients, which are suited to increase the feasibility for application in the building industry. Finally, the usability of module A4 and A5 in environmental product declarations is discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Kai Kanafani & Jonathan Magnes & Søren Munch Lindhard & Maria Balouktsi, 2023. "Carbon Emissions during the Building Construction Phase: A Comprehensive Case Study of Construction Sites in Denmark," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-23, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:14:p:10992-:d:1193298
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alejandro Padilla-Rivera & Ben Amor & Pierre Blanchet, 2018. "Evaluating the Link between Low Carbon Reductions Strategies and Its Performance in the Context of Climate Change: A Carbon Footprint of a Wood-Frame Residential Building in Quebec, Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Petrovic, Bojana & Myhren, Jonn Are & Zhang, Xingxing & Wallhagen, Marita & Eriksson, Ola, 2019. "Life cycle assessment of a wooden single-family house in Sweden," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    3. Søren Munch Lindhard & Simon Wyke & Hadi Mahami & Seyyed Saeed Vaezzadeh & Kjeld Svidt, 2023. "Waste Generation Predictions and On-Site Waste Management: A Danish Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-18, February.
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