Page 4 - InnoRenew CoE International Conference 2022
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nalysing carbon footprint and life cycle cost (LCC) of a one
family dwelling for more sustainable building solutions
Erwin M. Schau1*, Tim Mavrič1, Eva Prelovšek Niemelä1, Željko Vene2,
Sebastjan Molnar2, Barbara Kobale2
1 InnoRenew CoE, Livade 6A, SI-6310 Isola-Izola, Slovenia
2 Marles, Limbuška cesta 2, Sl-2341 Limbuš, Slovenia
* Corresponding author
There is an urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by the year 2030 and to reach
climate neutrality by 2050. The building sector is one of the largest emitters of CO2 to the atmosphere.
Including energy use in buildings, the sector contributes 31% of the global CO2 emissions (Cabessa et al,
2022). However, the cost of climate friendlier buildings needs to be affordable for the purchaser, while taking
into account the emitted CO2 during the use phase. This calls for a carbon footprint evaluation along with an
LCC. In this contribution, we investigated an existing prefabricated wooden single-family house and compared
it to two different hypothetical scenarios of design with different materials. This building serves as a model
for the Slovene construction company Marles, for further development of prefabricated home models. In the
first scenario we dealt with the optimisation of the existing building in terms of carbon footprint. We changed
the insulation materials from less environmentally friendly to bio-based and reduced the concrete parts in the
structure (foundation plate). This change increased the cost of construction. In the second scenario we evaluated
the change of construction materials from the existing wooden structure into brick with concrete reinforcement
elements and slabs. In this scenario we presented a less environmentally friendly solution but managed a lower
cost of investment for the purchaser.
The results show that, even with increased energy performance for construction materials, the energy
consumption in the use phase dominates the carbon footprint. Nevertheless, there is time to stress the
importance of reducing the carbon footprint of construction materials, since energy-reduction policies in the
use phase of the buildings are well known and have been put into practice. Detailed analysis of the impact of
different construction materials on carbon footprint and LCC, gives better insight into how future construction
should be developed.
Keywords: Carbon footprint, life cycle cost (LCC), buildings, family house
Acknowledgment: The authors from InnoRenew CoE gratefully acknowledge the European Commission for
funding the InnoRenew CoE project (Grant Agreement #739574) under the H2020 Widespread-Teaming
programme, and the Republic of Slovenia (Investment funding of the Republic of Slovenia and the European
Union of the European Regional Development Fund).
REFERENCES
Cabessa, LF &al. 2022; Chapter 9: Buildings in IPPC, Climate Change 2022, Mitigation of Climate Change,
Working Group III contribution to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (Ar6)
4 17–18 NOVEMBER 2022 I IZOLA, SLOVENIA
family dwelling for more sustainable building solutions
Erwin M. Schau1*, Tim Mavrič1, Eva Prelovšek Niemelä1, Željko Vene2,
Sebastjan Molnar2, Barbara Kobale2
1 InnoRenew CoE, Livade 6A, SI-6310 Isola-Izola, Slovenia
2 Marles, Limbuška cesta 2, Sl-2341 Limbuš, Slovenia
* Corresponding author
There is an urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by the year 2030 and to reach
climate neutrality by 2050. The building sector is one of the largest emitters of CO2 to the atmosphere.
Including energy use in buildings, the sector contributes 31% of the global CO2 emissions (Cabessa et al,
2022). However, the cost of climate friendlier buildings needs to be affordable for the purchaser, while taking
into account the emitted CO2 during the use phase. This calls for a carbon footprint evaluation along with an
LCC. In this contribution, we investigated an existing prefabricated wooden single-family house and compared
it to two different hypothetical scenarios of design with different materials. This building serves as a model
for the Slovene construction company Marles, for further development of prefabricated home models. In the
first scenario we dealt with the optimisation of the existing building in terms of carbon footprint. We changed
the insulation materials from less environmentally friendly to bio-based and reduced the concrete parts in the
structure (foundation plate). This change increased the cost of construction. In the second scenario we evaluated
the change of construction materials from the existing wooden structure into brick with concrete reinforcement
elements and slabs. In this scenario we presented a less environmentally friendly solution but managed a lower
cost of investment for the purchaser.
The results show that, even with increased energy performance for construction materials, the energy
consumption in the use phase dominates the carbon footprint. Nevertheless, there is time to stress the
importance of reducing the carbon footprint of construction materials, since energy-reduction policies in the
use phase of the buildings are well known and have been put into practice. Detailed analysis of the impact of
different construction materials on carbon footprint and LCC, gives better insight into how future construction
should be developed.
Keywords: Carbon footprint, life cycle cost (LCC), buildings, family house
Acknowledgment: The authors from InnoRenew CoE gratefully acknowledge the European Commission for
funding the InnoRenew CoE project (Grant Agreement #739574) under the H2020 Widespread-Teaming
programme, and the Republic of Slovenia (Investment funding of the Republic of Slovenia and the European
Union of the European Regional Development Fund).
REFERENCES
Cabessa, LF &al. 2022; Chapter 9: Buildings in IPPC, Climate Change 2022, Mitigation of Climate Change,
Working Group III contribution to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (Ar6)
4 17–18 NOVEMBER 2022 I IZOLA, SLOVENIA
