Dynamic ELCC assessment of hospital building: contrast assembled interior decoration with traditional interior decoration

The construction sector significantly contributes to global carbon emissions (CE). Assembled buildings, especially assembled interior decoration (AID), have recently gained popularity due to their potential carbon reduction benefits. This study aims to explore the environmental and economic benefits of assembled interiors by comparing AID and traditional interior decoration (TID). Based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) framework, the environmental life cycle costing (ELCC) assessment process was refined and a Dynamic ELCC (D-ELCC) model specifically for hospital buildings was developed. The model was applied to compare two interior decoration techniques in the hospital case and identify key factors through sensitivity analysis, along with dynamic scenario interpretation to assess the environmental and economic impacts over the life cycle. AID lowers life cycle carbon emissions (LCCE) by 187.58 kg CO2-eq/m2. Excluding the operational phase, AID reduces CE by 57.95%. However, AID’s D-ELCC is higher by 131.14 yuan/m2 ($17.93). However, only the material production and transportation stages are more costly, possibly due to the immaturity of the assembly industry chain at present, resulting in higher initial investment costs. Nonetheless, AID's sustainability and economics are superior in the long term. The application of AID in hospital buildings with high energy consumption can effectively enhance the environmental and economic benefits of such buildings. To improve the market competitiveness of AID, it is important to increase the use of eco-friendly materials, and to improve standardization and integration in design and production processes, thereby reducing D-ELCC across the board.