Simplified life cycle assessment applied to structural insulated panels homes

Authors

  • Juan Pablo Cárdenas Universidad de La Frontera (Chile)
  • Edmundo Muñoz Universidad Andrés Bello (Chile)
  • Cristian Riquelme Universidad de La Frontera (Chile)
  • Francisco Hidalgo Universidad de La Frontera (Chile)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-50732015000100003

Keywords:

construction materials, environmental assessment, embodied energy, operational building energy, life cicle assesment

Abstract

As environmental issues become increasingly important, the buildings have focused on energy efficiency and energy needed for the construction and production of material. This research shows a simplified life cycle analysis study of operational and embodied energy of four new houses located in Temuco - Chile, structured with SIP (Structural insulated panel), in order to quantify the energy at each stage of this construction system. To obtain embodied energy were used two international databases in order to quantify the energy of each material, and the energy contained in the process relating with structure SIP was determined through measures in a company specializing in SIP construction. For the operational energy, computational models were carried out with Design Builder software, and this energy was projected at 50 years lifespan. The analysis of the data obtained show that the energy contained by construction processes represents about 1.7% of embodiedenergy, while the total embodied energy represents 11% of the total life cycle energy of houses, the remaining 89% represents the energy of occupation. On the other hand, we observe that SIP houses generate figures close to 60% savings in energy demand, compared to a masonry houses commonly built in this city.

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Author Biography

Juan Pablo Cárdenas, Universidad de La Frontera (Chile)

Departamento de Ingeniería en Obras Civiles

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Published

2015-04-13

How to Cite

Cárdenas, J. P., Muñoz, E., Riquelme, C., & Hidalgo, F. (2015). Simplified life cycle assessment applied to structural insulated panels homes. Revista Ingeniería De Construcción, 30(1), 33–38. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-50732015000100003

Issue

Section

Original Research