How Different Tools Contribute to Climate Change Mitigation in a Circular Building Environment?—A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

The circular economy (CE) has become a trend because concern has arisen regarding the end of life of several products and the reduction of CO2 emissions in many processes. Since the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is one of the biggest generators of environmental impacts, there is a need to apply the CE concept to the industry in order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the role of different tools that are used to integrate CE strategies to reduce GHG emissions by the AEC industry is still unknown in the scientific literature. The purpose of this paper is to carry out a systematic literature review on the theme and analyze the following seven tools: (1) life cycle assessment—LCA; (2) building information modeling—BIM; (3) building environmental certifications—BEC; (4) building materials passports—BMP; (5) waste management plan—WMP; (6) augmented reality—AR; and (7) virtual reality—VR. A total of 30 papers were reviewed, and it was observed that, in terms of CE strategies and climate change mitigation, the vast majority can be classified as closing loops and are mainly related to recycling and reuse at the end of life and the use of recycled materials. Considering the building’s stakeholders, constructors, researchers, and designers can be the main users and, consequently, those that most benefit from the use of the evaluated tools. The integration between LCA, BIM, and BMP was also observed. Finally, as one of the main contributions of this research, other types of integration among the analyzed tools are proposed. These proposals seek to improve and update the tools and also address the need to reduce GHG emissions.

Approaches for assessing embodied environmental effects during the building design process

“…Case studies and LCA frameworks (that could be operationalised) were separated for detailed analysis, numbering 42 documents in total [1, 2, . The remaining 24 documents [5,13,15,19,21,[62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80] were included in the literature review, in addition to 12 academic articles, industry documents and reports [9,[16][17][18][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88] that were selected using a backward and forward snowball approach (papers from the reference list, and papers that cited articles in the review). This technique was used when there were perceived information gaps.…”

Circularity as a Climate Change Mitigation Strategy in the Building Sector: The Stakeholder’s Involvement in the Interconnected Life Cycle Phases

“…This methodological approach did not consider other keywords related to the circular economy (such as reuse, recycling, closed loop, industrial symbiosis, etc.) that relevant literature review articles [73][74][75] took place. The aim was to reach the publications that directly analyze the intersection between the abovementioned three keywords and to limit the literature review explicitly to the context of the ongoing and emerging research argument.…”

A New Building Information Modelling-Based Approach to Automate Recyclability Rate Calculations for Buildings

“…By leveraging BIM and relevant concepts like LCA integrated with other advanced technologies, such as predictive analytics and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems (ANFIS), maintenance can be proactively scheduled, and materials can be efficiently reused or recycled, aligning with CE principles [10,34]. For instance, Akinadé and Oyedele (2019) developed a BIM-based tool that predicts construction waste, facilitating material optimization and waste reduction, which are essential for circularity [35].…”

“…Traditional construction methodologies, characterized by linear "take-make-consumedispose" models, further complicate the situation by failing to implement circular economy (CE) strategies effectively, leading to inefficient resource use and high levels of waste, much of which ends up in landfills without plans for recovery or recycling [6,7]. CE strategies, characterized by the reduction, reuse, and recycling of materials, aim to extend the lifespan of products and close material loops, thereby enhancing economic prosperity and environmental quality [7][8][9][10]. Despite existing initiatives such as the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) and the EU Green Deal, the construction sector's material reuse and recycling rates remain suboptimal [11,12].…”