There are many important environmental issues involved in the construction and use ofudbuildings which are either undergoing or require further research. The lack of detailedudembodied energy assessments models has been identified and limits possibleudenvironmental analysis. This study examines the current state of research into theudenvironmental impact of frame materials, assesses the quality and range of data available,udsets up a new framework for evaluation of materials and uses several example structuresudto assess the environmental impact This has been achieved by, firstly, studying theudenvironment related literature available concerning the frame of the building, separateudfrom other considerations, to provide a clear understanding of the processes involved.udSecond, data is extracted from the literature and processed to provide a homogenousudapproach and level field from which frame analysis can take place. Gaps in the availableuddata are identified.udThird, the identified gaps are filled using data derived from sources ranging fromudmanufacturers' literature to direct analysis of on site activities. Fourth, a model has beenudcreated to assess the environmental impact of the building frame. The factors assessedudwithin the remit of environmental impact are: embodied energy, embodied CO2 andudtransportation hours. The embodied energy includes the primary energy for all rawudmaterials, transportation, office overheads and contractor operations. These are calculatedudfrom the winning of raw materials, through manufacture, to demolition and recycling.udEmbodied CO2 encompasses the same range of data, but with respect to the CO2 udtransportation hours estimate the time spend on the road by vehicles involved in theudembodied energy and CO2 calculations. Finally data from several buildings has beenudused, to evaluated the environmental merits of each with respect to each other and to otherudbuildings for which calculations have been performed. Conclusions have been draw and.udfurther work suggested.
展开▼
