An economic, environmental and energy study of six innovative roofing solutions through life cycle assessment methodology

The construction sector is a major driver of economic growth and development; however, its activities, particularly in building construction, contribute substantially to environmental pollution. Roofs, as essential structural components, play a significant role in this environmental impact. This study evaluates six innovative roofing systems-Cobiax, Waffle, Roofix, Hollowcore, Light Composite Panel (LCP) and Contruss-by analyzing their environmental and economic performance.A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted using SimaPro and GaBi software, applying the CML methods to assess three key impact categories: global warming potential, acidification and eutrophication. We used Impact method 2002 to analyze human health, ecosystem quality, climate change and resources. EnergyPlus was used solely to estimate the operational energy consumption of each roofing system. This calculation does not form part of the cradle-to-gate LCA and was included only to provide additional insights into energy performance. The main LCA analysis remains strictly cradle-to-gate.The economic analysis indicated that the Contruss system is the most cost-effective option, while Cobiax demonstrated superior thermal insulation and lower heat transfer. Sensitivity analysis identified concrete, molding and reinforcement materials as the primary contributors to environmental impacts, suggesting that optimizing or reducing these materials could significantly lower the overall environmental burden of roofing systems in Iran's construction sector.