Assessing the Carbon Footprint of Sustainable Facades

Global warming is a critical environmental issue caused by increased greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings are responsible for a substantial portion of global energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately ۴۰% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. The adoption of sustainable materials in the building industry plays a vital role in addressing global warming. This study focuses on comparing two types of facades: traditional facades commonly found in Iranian buildings, predominantly constructed with stone and brick, and sustainable facades that incorporate alternative materials. The sustainable facades utilized sandwich panels and wood. Analyzing the carbon footprint revealed significant disparities between the two types. The conventional facade, consisting of stone, brick, and mortar, resulted in a total carbon emission of ۴۵,۸۲۵ kg of CO۲, with stone, brick, and mortar contributing ۵۳.۰%, ۱۸.۵%, and ۲۸.۵% to the carbon footprint, respectively. In contrast, the implementation of sustainable facades led to a notable reduction in carbon emissions, resulting in a carbon footprint of ۲۴,۱۵۰ kg of CO۲. The sustainable facade predominantly featured eco-friendly materials, with sandwich panels accounting for ۵۵.۸%, wood contributing ۳۴.۲%, and steel representing ۱۰% of the overall composition. These findings underscore the significant potential for substantial carbon emission reductions by transitioning from traditional facades to sustainable alternatives, promoting the development of an environmentally conscious built environment through the utilization of eco-friendly materials at every stage of construction.

کلیدواژه ها:

Carbon footprint analysis ، Eco-friendly façade ، Brick ، Sandwich panels ، Wood