Shanxi University Develops Methodology to Reduce Carbon Emissions in Building Life Cycle
Researchers at Shanxi University developed a methodology that integrates Building Information Modeling (BIM) with life cycle assessment to identify carbon emission reduction strategies in buildings. The study, which analyzed an office building in northern China, found that operational emissions, especially from heating, were the largest contributors to total emissions.
Steel production was identified as the primary source of carbon emissions during material production, while coal-based heating dominated operational emissions. Replacing coal with ground-source heat pumps could reduce heating emissions by over 50%. The methodology aims to enable architects to embed carbon assessment into design, emphasizing the importance of operational energy systems and low-carbon materials in achieving meaningful reductions in building lifecycle emissions.
