Investigation of Structural Systems in terms of the Decarbonizing Built Environment: Life Cycle Perspective

The construction industry is responsible for high energy consumption and environmental emissions. Building a decarbonized built environment requires evaluating the building industry in light of environmental performance criteria. In this respect, this study focuses on the environmental impact of structural elements, which constitute the largest percentage of a building. The study explains the life cycle assessment methodology and defines a life cycle framework for the analysis of structural systems. Life cycle energy and carbon analyses of alternative systems are performed using GaBi LCA software. The findings are evaluated in light of decarbonizing the built environment, and recommendations are presented. The study demonstrates the importance of the environmental impact of alternative systems, highlighting the necessity of incorporating environmental performance into an integrated decision-making mechanism at the early design stage.