Eco-Efficient Construction and Building Materials reviews ways of assessing the environmental impact of construction and building materials. Part one discusses the application of life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to building materials as well as eco-labeling. Part two includes case studies showing the application of LCA methodology to different types of building material, from cement and concrete to wood and adhesives used in building. Part three includes case studies applying LCA methodology to particular structures and components.
- Introduction to the environmental impact of construction and building materials
Part 1 Life cycle assessment (LCA), eco-labelling and procurement: Mineral resource depletion assessment
- LCA of sustainable building materials: An overview
- LCA of the building sector: strengths and weaknesses
- Using LCA methodology to develop eco-labels for construction and building materials
- The EU Ecolabel scheme and its application to construction and building materials
- Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) labelling of construction and building materials
- Shortcomings of eco-labelling of construction and building materials
- Green public procurement (GPP) of construction and building materials
Part 2 Assessing the environmental impact of construction and building materials: Assessing the environmental impact of conventional and ‘green’ cement production
- LCA of concrete made using recycled concrete or natural aggregates
- LCA of building thermal insulation materials
- LCA of phase change materials (PCMs) used in buildings
- LCA of wood-based building materials
- The environmental impact of adhesives
- LCA of road pavement materials
Part 3 Assessing the environmental impact of particular types of structure: Comparing the environmental impact of reinforced concrete and wooden structures
- Assessing the sustainability of prefabricated buildings
- LCA of green facades and living wall systems
- Assessing the environmental and economic impacts of cladding systems for green buildings
- LCA of windows and window materials
- LCA of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) structures
- LCA of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in civil applications
Fernando Pacheco-Torgal is an investigator in the C-TAC Research Unit at the University of Minho, Portugal, and is the author or co-author of more than 200 publications, including the edition of seven international books. Luisa F. Cabeza is Professor at the University of Lleida (Spain) where she leads the GREA research group. She has co-authored over 100 journal papers and several book chapters. João Labrincha is Associate Professor in the Materials and Ceramics Engineering Department of the University of Aveiro, Portugal, and member of the CICECO research unit. He has registered 22 patent applications, and has published over 170 SCI papers. Aldo Giuntini de Magalhães is a Professor in the Department of Materials Engineering and Construction at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and coordinates government research projects related to the area of Sustainable Buildings.