Embodied energy in the life cycle of construction materials: a bibliometric analysis and systematic review

This article presents a bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review on embodied energy in the life cycle of construction materials, focusing on its relevance to sustainability. The construction sector is one of the largest global energy consumers and carbon dioxide emitters, making it essential to understand the energy impacts of materials such as cement, steel, sand, gravel, and ceramics. Embodied energy encompasses all energy used from raw material extraction to production, transportation, and disposal. The study reviewed 1,558 publications, selecting 11 articles after rigorous analysis. Results highlight steel and cement as the largest consumers of embodied energy, emphasizing the need for methodological standardization and reliable databases. Additionally, the study discusses the importance of assessing environmental impacts through Life Cycle Energy Assessment (LCEA), identifying gaps in literature related to transportation and regional variations. This work contributes to more sustainable practices in construction, guiding the selection of materials with lower environmental impacts and promoting advances in energy efficiency throughout the life cycle of buildings.