{"title":"Sustainability of alternative concretes – emergy and life cycle analysis","authors":"Kavya A Nair, K B Anand","doi":"10.1680/jensu.23.00044","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Construction industry contributes the highest CO 2 emissions, in which concrete production is one of the key components. Extracting and transporting raw materials like limestone and aggregates contribute to habitat destruction and pollution. This study deals with the relative assessment of a group of commonly used concretes in varied strength levels using emergy analysis and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Six types of concrete are considered for evaluation: normal, binary blended, ternary blended, quaternary blended, alkali activated, and recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). Emergy analysis considers different qualities and quantities of inputs, providing insights on the resource-based impacts through emergy indicators. LCA, conducted using SimaPro software, evaluates the environmental impacts of concrete production using midpoint and endpoint indicators. From emergy analysis it is inferred that of concrete with alternative materials like fly ash, silica fume, GGBS, and recycled aggregate exhibited better results in terms of emergy indicators. RAC showed the highest value of emergy sustainability index in all strength ranges. In LCA, impacts were seen higher for normal concrete, followed by RAC. To obtain a more inclusive result, an emergy-LCA integrated index (IELI) is proposed. Results from this index aids in improved decision-making regarding the sustainability of the system considered.","PeriodicalId":49671,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Engineering Sustainability","volume":"38 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5000,"publicationDate":"2023-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Engineering Sustainability","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1680/jensu.23.00044","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, CIVIL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Construction industry contributes the highest CO 2 emissions, in which concrete production is one of the key components. Extracting and transporting raw materials like limestone and aggregates contribute to habitat destruction and pollution. This study deals with the relative assessment of a group of commonly used concretes in varied strength levels using emergy analysis and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Six types of concrete are considered for evaluation: normal, binary blended, ternary blended, quaternary blended, alkali activated, and recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). Emergy analysis considers different qualities and quantities of inputs, providing insights on the resource-based impacts through emergy indicators. LCA, conducted using SimaPro software, evaluates the environmental impacts of concrete production using midpoint and endpoint indicators. From emergy analysis it is inferred that of concrete with alternative materials like fly ash, silica fume, GGBS, and recycled aggregate exhibited better results in terms of emergy indicators. RAC showed the highest value of emergy sustainability index in all strength ranges. In LCA, impacts were seen higher for normal concrete, followed by RAC. To obtain a more inclusive result, an emergy-LCA integrated index (IELI) is proposed. Results from this index aids in improved decision-making regarding the sustainability of the system considered.
期刊介绍:
Engineering Sustainability provides a forum for sharing the latest thinking from research and practice, and increasingly is presenting the ''how to'' of engineering a resilient future. The journal features refereed papers and shorter articles relating to the pursuit and implementation of sustainability principles through engineering planning, design and application. The tensions between and integration of social, economic and environmental considerations within such schemes are of particular relevance. Methodologies for assessing sustainability, policy issues, education and corporate responsibility will also be included. The aims will be met primarily by providing papers and briefing notes (including case histories and best practice guidance) of use to decision-makers, practitioners, researchers and students.