Calculating and Analyzing Carbon Emission Factors of Prefabricated Components

Abstract

The construction industry’s carbon emissions have a considerable impact on the environment, and all countries have pledged to reduce them to achieve low-carbon transformation. The use of prefabricated components is widely recognized as a crucial measure for mitigating carbon emissions. However, there is a scarcity of existing data on the carbon emission factors of prefabricated components (CEFoPC), and few studies have focused on calculating and reducing their carbon emissions. This study presents a novel approach to calculating CEFoPC, which involves analyzing the production process, defining the carbon emission range, identifying the sources of carbon emissions, and establishing measurement equations for the carbon emissions of prefabricated components. The proposed approach is demonstrated using six typical prefabricated components in Nanjing, China, namely, prefabricated exterior and interior wall panels, stairs, laminated panels, balconies, and air conditioning panels. After decomposing the carbon emission factors and exploring carbon emission reduction strategies, the findings suggest that the production and transportation of raw materials are the primary contributors to carbon emissions associated with prefabricated components. Additionally, the most effective carbon emission reduction strategy involves the use of green and recycled raw materials. Furthermore, the framework for calculating CEFoPC proposed in this study is considered a significant contribution, as it can facilitate future research and the enrichment of carbon emission factor databases.