Life Cycle Assessment of a Traditional Brick Manufacture Improvement

Abstract

This research studies the application of a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate the environmental impacts of an improvement to traditional brick manufacture. This study case was carried out using realistic combustion gas measurements and experimental results. The traditional process and the addition of one or two hopper blower (HB) devices provided the three scenarios for this study, which were evaluated quantitatively using a set of metric indicators for potential impacts while applying a "cradle-to-gate" approach. A decreasing trend was observed for most values of the potential impact categories when the device was used. An opportunity to improve the traditional process by adding this device has been identified, as a reduction in the environmental impact categories has been observed. The study suggests that the LCA tool may be valuable for quantifying the environmental impacts of improvements in the processes.

Indicators as a Foundation of Eco-Labelling of Baked Clay Construction Products in the Republic of Serbia

“…During the last two decades, several green building certificates have been created that take into account social, economic and ecological aspects of the sustainability of buildings [11], which served as one of the guidelines for this research. As opposed to eco-labelling applied by TBE, a leading association for the manufacturing of brick products in Europe [17], and based on LCA [3,[13][14][15], in the research presented in this paper, the authors did not use LCA software packages; however, the products were monitored through all stages of their life cycle using the defined indicators. The innovative nature of ecolabelling based on indicators also originates from the use of certain emergy factors.…”

“…The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission per work phase is 30%, and 18% is also generated during material usage and transportation [2]. According to recent research, construction materials may be responsible for 20-90% of the increase in global warming potential (GWP) indicators [3]. Construction materials affect the environment in different stages of the life cycle: during the stage of material production, during the stage of facility building, use and maintenance and during the stage of disposal or demolition [4].…”

“…Some international LCA studies have been conducted in order to analyze the impact of buildings and construction materials on the environment. ISO 14040 and 14044 standards provide principles, framework, requirements and instructions for implementing LCA [3,[13][14][15]. The main goals of LCA for construction materials are quantifying and assessing ecological performances of materials so that the decision makers can compare and select materials with the weakest impact on the environment.…”

Análisis multiparamétrico de tres sistemas constructivos considerando indicadores de sustentabilidad: ambientales, económicos y energético-funcionales

“…Puesto que la unidad funcional se ha definido como 1 metro cuadrado de muro constructivo, no se consideran otros materiales estructurales. Para el análisis el ACV se utilizó la metodología descrita en la normas ISO 14040, la definición del alcance se muestra en este apartado, el análisis de inventario y evaluación de impactos se describen en el subtema siguiente y la interpretación de resultados se muestra en los resultados de esta investigación; se ha seleccionado esta metodología debido a la disposición de datos in situ, así como a las investigaciones análogas para evaluación de impactos ambientales en ladrillos (8,14,15). De acuerdo con algunas investigaciones sobre los principales impactos derivados de la construcción convencional (7,(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), los impactos a evaluar estarán relacionados a la emisión de GEI (Kg CO2-eq), a la acidificación (Kg SO2-eq) y a la eutrofización (Kg PO4-eq), que serán las categorías de impacto y los indicadores ambientales del presente estudio.…”

“…Algunas investigaciones también han realizado análisis de ACV (13), para estudiar distintos tipos de ladrillos y determinar impactos ambientales y energéticos. Otros estudios, han reportado el proceso de fabricación de estos materiales vinculados con su impacto ambiental (14); y en algunos se ha utilizado el ACV para toma de decisio-nes, con aquellos ladrillos de mejores características y menor impacto ambiental (15). Este estudio muestra el análisis comparativo de tres sistemas constructivos, considerando indicadores de sustentabilidad, evaluando aspectos ambientales, económicos y energético funcionales.…”