Carbon Footprint and Life Cycle Assessment in the Built Environment

Nikhil Mehare

doi:10.69968/c5gsv025

Authors

Nikhil Mehare Associate Professor, Dr D Y Patil College of Architecture Akurdi Pune

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69968/c5gsv025

Keywords:

Carbon Footprint, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Built Environment, Whole-Life Carbon Assessment, Sustainable Construction

Abstract

The building and construction industry contributes to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) on a global scale and therefore requires effective strategies to minimise the environmental impacts of buildings over their life cycle. This review aims to take a look at the idea of a carbon footprint and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the contribution they make to the promotion of sustainable construction. It explains the main sources of carbon emissions in buildings, such as building embodied carbon, operational carbon, and end-of-life carbon, and the significant carbon contributors. The review provides an overview of the LCA methodology, life cycle stages for buildings and international assessment standards. In addition, it emphasizes carbon reduction strategies involving LCA including low-carbon material selection, circular economy practices, energy-efficient design, renewable energy integration, and BIM (Building Information Modeling)-assisted decision-making. Lastly, current implementation challenges and future directions are highlighted, focusing on digital technologies, built environment whole-life carbon assessment, and policy support for low-carbon and climate-resilient built environments.

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