1 Timber-framed house Life-cycle investigation “The use of timber, instead of other construction materials, has the potential to have a more positive environmental impact on the life-cycle of a domestic dwelling”. The aim of this report is to investigate the accuracy of this hypothesis. Abstract The environmental impacts of using timber in construction has been investigated by researching and analyzing the different factors related to answering the hypothesis. The designs for a timber-framed domestic dwelling was collected from ‘Southern Timber Frame Ltd’ to calculate the embodied energy. A quantity survey was undertaken to establish the materials and quantities used to construct the building, then an analysis of the embodied energy was carried out. Final results saw an embodied energy of 30,595kgCO 2. This figure was compared with other structures to reveal that embodied energy increases with the weight of structure. Operational carbon emissions were also investigated for differing structures to show that this decreases with increasing weight of structure. The greatest factor influencing total life-cycle emissions was the operational energy. There is a positive correlation between weight of structure and total emissions, concluding that heavier-weight structures produce fewer carbon emissions throughout their life-cycle.
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1
Danie
l Palm
er/Q
10122478/A
RC
604
Timber-framed house Life-cycle investigation
“The use of timber, instead of other construction materials, has the potential
to have a more positive environmental impact on the life-cycle of a domestic
dwelling”. The aim of this report is to investigate the accuracy of this
hypothesis.
Abstract
The environmental impacts of using timber in construction has been
investigated by researching and analyzing the different factors related to
answering the hypothesis.
The designs for a timber-framed domestic dwelling was collected from
‘Southern Timber Frame Ltd’ to calculate the embodied energy. A quantity
survey was undertaken to establish the materials and quantities used to
construct the building, then an analysis of the embodied energy was carried
out. Final results saw an embodied energy of 30,595kgCO2.
This figure was compared with other structures to reveal that embodied energy
increases with the weight of structure. Operational carbon emissions were also
investigated for differing structures to show that this decreases with increasing
weight of structure. The greatest factor influencing total life-cycle emissions
was the operational energy. There is a positive correlation between weight of
structure and total emissions, concluding that heavier-weight structures
produce fewer carbon emissions throughout their life-cycle.
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Danie
l Palm
er/Q
10122478/A
RC
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Introduction
It is clear that global warming needs to be addressed in order to solve the many
problems attributed to it. Unfortunately, removing the causes of such a
phenomena is easier said than done. It is first necessary to understand what is
causing the climate of planet Earth to heat up at such a rate and then find out
who or what is responsible. Only then can strategies be put in place to reduce
the subsequent effects that are degrading our only habitat.
Limiting our impacts on the environment is vital in order to provide our future
generations a desirable place to live.
Governments have discovered that the global construction industry is
responsible for 30% of the global greenhouse gas emissions, suggesting that this
sector is most responsible.
This paper investigates how we, as a nation, can reduce our carbon footprint by
identifying the stages of construction and materials used that have the greatest
effect on the environment.
The hypothesis that environmental impacts can be reduced by using timber in a
dwelling construction, will be explored.
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Methodology
To investigate the embodied energy of a timber-framed domestic dwelling by
determining the energy used to manufacture it.
The aim and objectives of the investigation have been outlined. Research
techniques and methods have also been evaluated to ensure the data collected
is relevant and can be analysed appropriately to come to a conclusion. A
description of how the results will be displayed have then been outlined.
Aim
To investigate the embodied energy of a timber-framed domestic dwelling by
determining the energy used to manufacture it.
Objectives
This is primary research, from which, Quantitative data will be collected from a
real-life case study. Local companies that specialize in timber-frame
manufacturing will be contacted to request designs of a domestic dwelling
constructed of timber. Emails will be distributed asking for technical drawings
in an ‘Autodesk AutoCAD’ format to display different layouts. (Appendix B
shows how the results were extracted).
From here, a quantity survey can be undertaken to determine the amount of
each material used within the construction. Further quantitative data on
embodied energy of materials will be collected from the ‘Inventory of Carbon
and Energy’ (ICE) which has been produced by the ‘University of Bath’. This
database provides density figures that have been extracted from the Chartered
Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) guide. Assumptions in the
exact material used may be implemented if there are any limitations in the
collected data.
Results are to be displayed in a table that was created in a ‘Microsoft Excel’
spreadsheet to reveal how each step was calculated. This data can be
compared by using bar charts and pie charts to show which component
produces the most embodied carbon. It will also be important to compare the
embodied carbon and relative mass of the material investigated. This can
determine the relative environmental impact of each material, regardless of
the mass used.
The case study timber-framed house will be divided into six separate
components to help make it simpler to analyse: External walls, Floors, Party
wall, Load-bearing walls, Non load-bearing walls and Roof.
The process used to calculate the embodied energy used is highlighted.
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Cross-sectional area
The first calculation was to determine the cross-sectional area of an element.
The cross-sectional area will be calculated by using the measuring tool on the
technical drawings, or by making assumptions based on appropriate products
that could be used in their place. These products were identified on various
manufacturer websites that contain specifications of their products.