Architecture, Building and Planning - Theses

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End date: 2023 × Start date: 2020 × Type: Masters Research thesis × Subject: Cross Laminated Timber CLT Comparison Multi-Residential Buildings Melbourne Life Cycle Assessment LCA Hybrid Approach Biogenic Carbon Greenhouse Gas Emissions GHGE Climate Change Embodied End Of Life EOL Circular Thinking ×

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    The Potential for Cross Laminated Timber to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Buildings
    Cadorel, Xavier Thierrry André ( 2023-02)
    Cities around the world are facing the challenge of accommodating the growth of their population while mitigating climate change. In 2016, Australia, like 195 other nations, signed the Paris Agreement which aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to limit mean global temperature rise below 2 degrees C. The construction and building industry is responsible for 39% of global GHG emissions, with the manufacture of steel and cement representing 9% of global emissions. In the last decade, an innovative wood-based construction material known as cross laminated timber (CLT) has been introduced as an alternative to reinforced concrete for the primary structure of buildings, and many researchers have shown its potential to reduce the GHG emissions associated with buildings. However, this research has identified that despite a focus on embodied GHG emissions in most publications, most are lacking complete scopes and implementation of innovative methods and data. Using a real case study building (CSB) primarily constructed with CLT, and a hypothetical reference building (RB) constructed with conventional materials, this study has quantified and compared the GHG emissions of both buildings over a service life of 50 years. Methods in this study included the implementation of a hybrid life cycle inventory approach that combines both process and input output data. The results showed that the overall GHG emissions of the CSB exceeded that of the RB by 5.2 % over a service life of 50 years. For both buildings, the embodied GHG emissions represented more than three quarters of the overall GHG emissions, and the greatest difference between buildings’ results occurred at the end of life stage, highlighting the potential sensitivity of the end of life of scenario. However, this study has also shown that CLT has the potential to reduce GHG emissions associated with buildings, by extending the service life of buildings and reusing wood-based-products into subsequent projects to divert them from landfill at the end of their life. There are significant challenges to design and build for GHG emissions performance. From the lack of adapted, accurate and efficient tools to inform designers about GHG emissions performance, to implementing a design for deconstruction approach and circular thinking, this study has shown the need for a paradigm shift in the design process. This study also emphasised the lack of consensus regarding some methods such as biogenic carbon accounting and the need for further research in this area. Furthermore, this shift towards designing and building for GHG emissions performance and research advancement are required to accelerate if the Construction and Building industry is to play a key role in limiting global temperature rise below 2 degrees C.