Exploring built environment stock metabolism and sustainability by systems analysis approaches

摘要

The material and energy metabolism of the built environment stocks can be examined by use of a generic model framework that allows for a dynamic analysis where the stock's quantity, composition and quality are related to the demand for service provided to the population. The stock is classified by use of type-age matrices, according to what are the important functions, age structure and material composition of the stock. A mathematical model is demonstrated for calculating the relationship between annual stock size, annual stock change, past inflows and present outflows. This allows for quantification of the material and energy metabolism, in a system life cycle perspective, and its corresponding economic and environmental performance. Various aspects of the approach are applied to selected built environment stocks in Norway, and this paper documents part of this approach for building stocks and road bridge stocks.