Concrete Structures and Their Impacts on Climate Change and Water and Raw Material Resource Depletion

Abstract

AbstractThe construction sector contributes significantly to the production of greenhouse gases and thus to climate change. This study aims to quantify the environmental performance of selected bearing constructions with special regard to their climate change contribution and resource depletion. Environmental impacts were assessed using environmental indicators, such as global warming potential and abiotic, water and natural resource depletion. The material composition of the wall structures consisted of aerated concrete blocks, ranging from 300 to 375 mm, with different thermal-insulation materials (expanded polystyrene with graphite, and rock wool) and variable interior and exterior plaster. The evaluation was based on life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology within the ‘‘cradle to gate” boundaries. The calculated values of global warming potentials per square metre of wall construction ranged from 234.16 to 283.46 kg CO2 eq for the 20-year time span, from 213.02 to 255.20 kg CO2 eq for the 100-year time span and from 190.40 to 229.90 kg CO2 eq for the 500-year time span. The average water consumption was identified as 3.97 m3, and the abiotic depletion was identified as 1.41 kg Sbeq per square metre of the wall structure. The lowest environmental impact in all environmental categories evaluated was found for a structure with aerated concrete with a thickness of 300 mm with graphite polystyrene thermal insulation and with silicone outdoor plaster. Using a suitable material composition of the wall structure, up to a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved while maintaining the same thermal parameters of the structure.