Embodied Energy Consumption in the Residential Sector: A Case Study of Affordable Housing

dc.citation.issue9
dc.citation.volume14
dc.contributor.authorAnderson N
dc.contributor.authorWedawatta G
dc.contributor.authorRathnayake I
dc.contributor.authorDomingo N
dc.contributor.authorAzizi Z
dc.contributor.editorMuldoon-Smith K
dc.contributor.editorKumar B
dc.contributor.editorSingh SP
dc.date.accessioned2024-09-15T23:25:17Z
dc.date.available2024-09-15T23:25:17Z
dc.date.issued2022-04-22
dc.description.abstractEmbodied energy has a significant effect on the total environmental impact of a project. However, emphasis is often placed primarily on operational energy, resulting in a knowledge gap about the current state of embodied energy use in affordable housing. To address this, the study investigates the level of embodied energy consumption in affordable housing, as well as the drivers, barriers, and techniques to reduce embodied energy. Based on a single embedded case study covering the period from cradle to end of construction, data were collected using embodied energy calculations of three affordable housing units in the project, semi-structured interviews with five design team members, and a cross-examination of findings with contract documents. The results were analysed using sensitivity analysis and thematic analysis. The findings revealed that all three house units fulfilled the baseline embodied carbon target of 800 kg CO2 /m2 and both detached properties fell within the LETI (2020) target of 500 kg CO2 /m2 . However, all three properties would fail to meet the RIBA or 2030 LETI target of 300 kg CO2 /m2 . This suggests that improvements are necessary to achieve future targets. The results show that financial capabilities and operational energy prioritisation act as the main enabler and barrier for reducing embodied energy. Local contractors/suppliers, minimising material use or intensity, and modular construction were highlighted as the key reduction techniques that can be used to help achieve future targets concerning embodied carbon in residential developments. The study contributes significantly to understanding the current state of embodied energy use in affordable housing and provides new insights on how to deal with embodied energy if we are to meet future energy targets.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.edition.editionMay-1 2022
dc.identifier.citationAnderson N, Wedawatta G, Rathnayake I, Domingo N, Azizi Z. (2022). Embodied Energy Consumption in the Residential Sector: A Case Study of Affordable Housing. Sustainability (Switzerland). 14. 9.
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/su14095051
dc.identifier.eissn2071-1050
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.number5051
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/71456
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherMDPI (Basel, Switzerland)
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/9/5051
dc.relation.isPartOfSustainability (Switzerland)
dc.rights(c) 2022 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectaffordable housing
dc.subjectcarbon emission
dc.subjectcase study
dc.subjectembodied carbon
dc.subjectembodied energy
dc.subjectsustainable construction
dc.subjectUnited Kingdom
dc.subjectzero carbon
dc.titleEmbodied Energy Consumption in the Residential Sector: A Case Study of Affordable Housing
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id453334
pubs.organisational-groupCollege of Health
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