Dynamic material flow analysis of construction materials in Saudi Arabia: Strategies for sustainability of residential buildings

Globally, the expansion of building infrastructure has serious environmental implications due to emissions from cement and steel. The construction industry uses the vast majority of cement and steel produced globally and locally. Consequently, this paper proposes a model to estimate and mitigate future material flow emissions into residential buildings in Saudi Arabia. First, a dynamic material flow model is used to quantify material flows and stock in residential buildings. The evolution of Saudi housing stock and related steel and cement are simulated from 1950 to 2100. Second, various strategies such as material efficiency improvement, lifetime extension, and reducing production emissions are simulated to reduce emissions caused by cement and steel. The findings indicate that implementing substantial material efficiency improvements can result in 33 %–46 % reductions of cumulative steel and cement emissions from 2023 to 2100, respectively. Furthermore, improving material efficiency measures could result in over 80 % reductions in emissions for steel over the same period. Reducing the ratio of clinker to supplementary cementitious materials in cement to 75 % could reduce cumulative cement emissions by 129 million tCO 2 e (17 %). Adoption of high material efficiency practices in cement use, low clinker cement, and waste as fuel can reduce emissions by 70 %. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of future emissions from building materials used in residential buildings, as well as the impact of emission mitigation strategies on future emissions, which will help decision-makers and researchers develop policies and research. • Construction materials of residential buildings in Saudi Arabia are estimated. • Greenhouse gas emissions caused by construction materials are computed. • Various strategies are proposed to reduce emissions. • The study represents a step forward in residential building sustainability.