Embodied Carbon Potential of Conventional Construction Materials Used in Typical Malaysian Single Storey Low Cost House Using Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Abstract:

The housing sector of Malaysia plays a very prominent role in meeting the major requirements of accommodation throughout the country. However, this sector consumes a handsome amount of resources among which the construction materials are a prime resource. Besides the valuable contribution of housing sector, the building materials used make a significant contribution in embodied CO₂ emissions. In order to access the magnitude of CO₂ from housing sector, it is necessary that effect of embodied CO₂ emissions from the materials used in conventional housing construction in Malaysia shall also be studied. This study focuses on the embodied CO₂ emission from the materials used in construction of a typical low cost house which are commonly adopted in Malaysia. The virtual model of selected single storey low cost house was developed using Building Information Modeling (BIM) concept. The results highlighted that bricks (37%), concrete (22%), mild steel (19%), steel rebar (7%) and roof tiles (6%) are the top five materials responsible for CO₂ emissions. The overall contribution of single storey house in terms of embodied CO₂ emissions is observed to be 34 kg-CO₂ / sq. ft. This study has helped to highlight the potential contribution of conventional materials used in typical housing sector of Malaysia.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 1043)
• Pages: 242-246
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1043.242
• Online since: October 2014
• Authors: Syed Shujaa Safdar Gardezi*, Nasir Shafiq, Noor Amila Wan Abdullah Zawawi, Syed Ahmad Farhan
• Keywords: Building Information Modeling, CO₂ Emission, Construction Materials, Embodied Carbon, Malaysian Housing Sector

References

[1] Asif, M., T. Muneer, and R. Kelley, Life cycle assessment: A case study of a dwelling home in Scotland. Building and Environment, 2007. 42(3): pp.1391-1394.

DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.11.023

[2] Gardezi, S.S.S., N. Shafiq, and M.F.B. Khamidi, Prospects of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Malaysian Construction Industry as Conflict Resolution Tool. Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy, 2013. 3(11): pp.346-350.

[3] Hammond, G. and C. Jones, Inventory of Carbon & Energy: ICE. 2008: Sustainable Energy Research Team, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath.

[4] Baek, C., et al., Life cycle carbon dioxide assessment tool for buildings in the schematic design phase. Energy and Buildings, 2013. 61(0): pp.275-287.

DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.01.025

[5] González, M.J. and J. García Navarro, Assessment of the decrease of CO2 emissions in the construction field through the selection of materials: Practical case study of three houses of low environmental impact. Building and Environment, 2006. 41(7): pp.902-909.

DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.04.006

[6] Pacheco-Torres, R., et al., Analysis of CO2 emissions in the construction phase of single-family detached houses. Sustainable Cities and Society, 2014. 12(0): pp.63-68.

DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2014.01.003