Transportation energy embodied in construction materials
Miller, J. D. et al
1996
Proceedings of the Embodied Energy: the current state of play,Deakin University, Woolstores Campus, Geelong, Australia November 28 - 29
Miller, J. D. et al, (1996), "Transportation energy embodied in construction materials", Proceedings of the Embodied Energy: the current state of play,Deakin University, Woolstores Campus, Geelong, Australia November 28 - 29.
| Abstract: |
| It is estimated that buildings, their construction, operation and disposal, account for over 40% of the total energy consumption. The consumption of this energy has implications for the depletion of natural resources and for the production of pollution and subsequent problems such as global warming and acid rain. The total energy consumption that can be attributed to a building throughout its life will depend upon the energy consumed for the production of the building materials, construction, operation, maintenance and refurbishment and for demolition and disposal or recycling. Much research has been aimed at understanding the energy consumption in occupied buildings and at reducing that consumption. However as energy consumption of occupied buildings is reduced due to higher insulation standards, more efficient plant and better control so the other components in the life cycle become more significant. In 1994, Howard and Sutcliffe, demonstrated the embodied energy of a commercial building to be equivalent to the energy consumed in the first five years of operation. As the thermal performance regulations for the building envelope improve so the significance of the embodied energy will increase. In addition building refurbishment cycles, especially for commercial buildings, are becoming shorter, further increasing the energy embodied in the building materials.
This paper is based on the findings of the first stage of a research programme aimed at improving the body of knowledge available for the evaluation of the embodied energy of building materials. In particular it is aimed at evaluating the energy consumed in the transportation of building materials from the winning of the raw materials, through the various stages of manufacture of building materials and components to the delivery to the construction site. The paper presents the analysis of the transportation energy embodied in a new hall of residence for students of Sussex university constructed on the seafront in Brighton. It is appreciated that the results are site specific and that they are affected by location and purchasing policy of the contractor. They are also affected by the size of the building by virtue of the quantities of materials required. However the purpose of the study is to identify the factors that significantly affect the energy consumed in the transportation of building materials so that they can be evaluated in any other situation. |
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