| Title | Towards a sustainable circular economy: Understanding the environmental credits and loads of reusing modular building components from a multi-use cycle perspective |
|---|---|
| ID_Doc | 22678 |
| Authors | Yang, Y; Zheng, BW; Luk, C; Yuen, KF; Chan, AL |
| Title | Towards a sustainable circular economy: Understanding the environmental credits and loads of reusing modular building components from a multi-use cycle perspective |
| Year | 2024 |
| Published | |
| Abstract | Properly designed modular construction offers the potential for easy disassembly, relocation, and reuse across multiple use cycles. However, the environmental benefits and burdens resulting from the reuse of modular components over these cycles are not well understood. The study aimed to assess the environmental credits and loads associated with reusing modular components over multiple use cycles. This aim was achieved through two approaches. Firstly, three dedicated life cycle assessment (LCA) allocation rules were adopted, namely, cut-off with Module D, the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), and the Circular Footprint Formula (CFF), to evaluate the environmental impacts of production, reuse, repair, replacement, recycling, and disposal of a modular unit (including the steel frame, concrete slab, and steel connector) across different life cycle stages (Module A, Module C, and Module D) and use cycles (first, intermediate, and last). The PEF approach was determined to be the most suitable for interpreting the environmental credits and burdens associated with reuse. The study found that the reuse and recycling of the modular unit resulted in approximately 9007 +/- 362 kg, 2925 +/- 602 kg, and 8433 +/- 544 kg of equivalent carbon dioxide emissions in the first, intermediate, and last use cycles, respectively. Secondly, a global sensitivity analysis was performed to assess how uncertain input parameters related to future use cycles (e.g., reuse rate, direct reusability rate, recyclability rate, and transport distance) influenced the LCA outcomes. The results revealed that it is beneficial to achieve a higher level of reusability (i.e., direct reusability) and recyclability for the steel frame to maximize the environmental advantages. The impact associated with a relatively lower level of reusability (i.e., repairable) and recyclability for subcomponents is considered environmentally acceptable. However, the lowest level of reusability of subcomponents (i.e., replaceable) should be avoided to minimize the impact associated with replacements. With a view to ensuring net environmental benefits from reuse, it is crucial to attain the desirable reusability level through developing proper design and deconstruction strategies for individual modular components. |
Similar Articles
| ID | Score | Article |
|---|---|---|
5305
|
Minunno, R; O'Grady, T; Morrison, GM; Gruner, RL Exploring environmental benefits of reuse and recycle practices: A circular economy case study of a modular building(2020) | |
| 17362
|
Backes, JG; Del Rosario, P; Petrosa, D; Traverso, M; Hatzfeld, T; Günther, E Building Sector Issues in about 100 Years: End-Of-Life Scenarios of Carbon-Reinforced Concrete Presented in the Context of a Life Cycle Assessment, Focusing the Carbon Footprint(2022)Processes, 10, 9 | |
| 27202
|
Zhu, H; Liou, SR; Chen, PC; He, XY; Sui, ML Carbon Emissions Reduction of a Circular Architectural Practice: A Study on a Reversible Design Pavilion Using Recycled Materials(2024)Sustainability, 16.0, 5 | |
| 3905
|
Jayawardana, J; Sandanayake, M; Kulatunga, AK; Jayasinghe, JASC; Zhang, GM; Osadith, SAU Evaluating the Circular Economy Potential of Modular Construction in Developing Economies-A Life Cycle Assessment(2023)Sustainability, 15, 23 | |
| 15568
|
Balasbaneh, AT; Ramadan, BS Integrating three pillars of sustainability for evaluating the modular construction building(2024) | |
| 13462
|
Vladimirov, V; Bica, I Methodology and calculation model for recycling of composite construction products(2019) | |
| 4583
|
Antwi-Afari, P; Ng, ST; Chen, J; Oluleye, BI; Antwi-Afari, MF; Ababio, BK Enhancing life cycle assessment for circular economy measurement of different case scenarios of modular steel slab(2023) | |
| 8724
|
Menegatti, LC; Fernandez, LIC; Caldas, LR; Pepe, M; Pittau, F; Zani, G; Rampini, MC; Michels, J; Toledo, RD; Martinelli, E Environmental Performance of Deconstructable Concrete Beams Made with Recycled Aggregates(2022)Sustainability, 14.0, 18 | |
| 26529
|
Bertin, I; Saadé, M; Le Roy, R; Jaeger, JM; Feraille, A Environmental impacts of Design for Reuse practices in the building sector(2022) | |
| 16571
|
De Wolf, C; Hoxha, E; Fivet, C Comparison of environmental assessment methods when reusing building components: A case study(2020) |