An assessment of concrete, steel and timber products in a commercial building using life-cycle analysis results

The construction sector is rapidly growing and creating enormous impacts on the global environment. Life Cycle Assessment is a well-known methodology for “cradle to grave” analysis of the environmental impacts of products using in the construction projects and whole-building as well. The study compares the outcomes from a life-cycle assessment of building construction to analyse the building material role in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. It analyses the behaviour of three main materials using a typical building: concrete, steel, and timber. The life-cycle assessment provides data that allow researchers to evaluate the environmental impacts of these materials during the lifetime of a commercial building in Australia. This paper provides life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions analysis for major materials using in the construction projects. The study shows that the relationship between materials utilisation, energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions play a significant role in achieving sustainable development goals in the construction sector. Another finding of the study suggests that researchers and designers should consider the utilisation of materials in the building projects to mitigate environmental impacts through reducing life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions