Skip to the main content

Radovi Zavoda za znanstveni i umjetnički rad u Požegi, No. 1., 2012.

Review article

Influence of Construction Materials on the Environment

Nina Štirmer

Full text: croatian pdf 1.269 Kb

page 293-311

downloads: 3.681

cite

Abstract

The environmentally sustainable construction characteristic is to reduce the environmental impact during construction, and the entire lifetime of the building. To estimate the impact of buildings on the environment, it is necessary to consider all construction phases including the use of natural raw materials for production of building products, construction method, the use of the building and eventually demolition and recycling. Construction is considered as an activity that consumes the largest amount of natural resources, such as aggregate, water, wood and various natural raw materials for production of alloys. Cement as the main constituent of concrete is very important material in construction, but its production requires high energy consumption and it leads to greenhouse gas emissions of CO2. Studies have shown that the cement industry is responsible for 7 % of total CO2 emissions. In the production of one ton of Portland cement clinker, into the environment is emitted approximately 850 kg of CO2. Construction also causes high energy consumption in the production of building products and in construction phase as well as in the use of the building for heating, cooling and lighting. The construction waste recycling and its reuse for various purposes reduces the need for the natural resources exploitation and solves the disposal problems and new space occupation. Despite these findings, the current level of construction waste recycling in the Republic of Croatia does not exceed 7 %, and from construction waste, only 11 % secondary raw materials is separated. The paper presents different aspects of sustainable construction, with special emphasis on the building materials selection, and developing awareness of their impact on the environment during the entire lifetime of the building.

Keywords

sustainable construction; materials; CO2 emission; lifetime; recycling

Hrčak ID:

97380

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/97380

Publication date:

15.11.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 5.624 *