Dataset of Specific Total Embodied Energy and Specific Total Weight of 40 Buildings from the Last Four Decades in the Andean Region of Ecuador

Abstract

This article presents the Specific Total Embodied Energy (STEE) and Specific Total Weight (STW) of 40 Andean residential buildings in Ecuador, from 1980 to 2020. Firstly, the BoM of ten buildings of every decade was obtained through field work carried out in three urban sectors of this city. Secondly, the specific embodied energy and specific weight of every material found in the 40 samples were obtained by bibliography. Finally, the calculation of each building was divided into three components: Structure, Envelope and Finishes. The analyzed data show a detailed collection of different materials and construction typologies used in these four decades, and the impact on their embodied energy and their weight. Moreover, this article gives a Specific Embodied Energy and Specific Weight database of 25 materials that are extensively used in Andean regions. The results show several changes in reference to the insertion of new material, but also regarding the adoption of new architectonic models. The most important changes, in the analyzed period, have been the use of concrete and metal in the structure instead of wood, the increase in the glass surface in the envelope, and the replacement of wood by particleboard on the finishes. In conclusion, the STEE of the entire building has experienced an increase of 2.19 times in the last four decades. The STW value has also increased, but to a lesser extent (1.36 times).