Carbon Emission from Buildings: An Application of Life Cycle Assessment (Pelepasan Karbon daripada Bangunan: Satu Penggunaan Penilaian Kitaran Hayat)

MURNIRA OTHMAN, AHMAD FARIZ MOHAMED

Abstract


ABSTRACT: Buildings sector contribute to approximately 40% of carbon emissions, calling for the urge to tackle the problem. Carbon emission is mainly associated with the use of enormous amounts of energy during the operational phase in the building life cycle. Carbon emission from a building can be determined by measuring energy used starting from building material preparation until building’s end of life. There is a substantial literature on determining the embodied energy (EE) of materials and carbon emission especially using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) which considers all stages in the building life cycle. The application of LCA provides a tool for complete measurement of building effects on the environment and indirectly contributes to mitigation measures that could be applied in the whole building construction process and building life cycle that would contribute to an environment friendly and effective built environment. Thus, this paper discusses the application of LCA in building sector to determine which phases in the building life cycle that consumes more energy and releases more carbon emission. The application of LCA is very appropriate in assessing the performance of a building where effective mitigation measures could be identified to improved efficiency and helping national energy and natural resource conservation.

Keywords: Carbon emission; building; natural; life cycle assessment

 

ABSTRAK: Sektor bangunan menyumbang kepada lebih kurang 40% daripada pelepasan karbon, menyeru gesaan untuk menangani masalah ini. Pelepasan karbon sebahagian besarnya dikaitkan dengan penggunaan tenaga yang besar semasa fasa operasi dalam kitar hayat bangunan. Pelepasan karbon daripada bangunan boleh ditentukan dengan mengukur tenaga yang digunakan bermula daripada membina penyediaan bahan sehingga keadaan akhir bangunan. Terdapat banyak penulisan dalam menentukan ‘embodied energy’ (EE) bahan dan pelepasan karbon terutama menggunakan Penilaian Kitar Hayat (LCA) yang mengambil kira semua peringkat dalam kitaran hidup bangunan. Penggunaan LCA menyediakan alat untuk mengukur secara lengkap kesan-kesan bangunan terhadap alam sekitar dan secara tidak langsung menyumbang kepada langkah-langkah tebatan yang boleh digunakan dalam keseluruhan proses pembinaan bangunan dan bangunan kitaran hidup yang akan menyumbang kepada persekitaran alam bina dan berkesan. Oleh itu, kertas kerja ini akan membincangkan penggunaan LCA dalam sektor pembinaan untuk menentukan fasa dalam kitar hayat bangunan yang menggunakan lebih banyak tenaga dan melepaskan karbon secara berlebihan. Penggunaan LCA adalah sangat sesuai dalam menilai prestasi sesebuah bangunan di mana langkah-langkah tebatan yang berkesan dapat dikenal pasti untuk meningkatkan kecekapan dan membantu tenaga negara dan pemuliharaan sumber semula jadi.

Kata kunci: Pelepasan karbon; bangunan; semula jadi; penilaian kitaran kehidupan


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