Environmental effect evaluation of different structure systems in residential architecture by using life cycle assessment method

Rapid depletion of our natural and limited resources led us to the idea of using these resources wisely and using minimum resources. The idea of sustainability has gained importance in this sense and has become a parameter that can't be ignored while building our environment. Life cycle assessment (LCA) at building level analyzes the total energy consumed by each component starting from the raw material stage, including the production, use and demolition phases of the building. Environmental impacts that caused by natural resources consumed for energy, can be measured with this method. According to LCA results, the design can be revised, the analysis can be repeated, different alternatives can be produced and compared, eventually the most suitable option for the natural environment can be determined. If embodied energy which represents the sum of the energy consumed during the process that includes extraction, production, transportation of building materials etc. decrease, the negative environmental impacts decrease as well. Similarly, embodied carbon means the carbon footprint of a material. It is the measure of how much greenhouse gas is released to the nature during the production process of the material. Embodied energy and embodied carbon can be measured bythe help of LCA. In this study it is aimed to draw attention to the pre-construction phase of the buildings and to evaluate the energy consumed and carbon emission in the context of structure systems. Reinforced concrete, wood and steel were studied in three different construction systems and their environmental impacts compared on the basis of embodied carbon and embodied energy. This study is limited to the part of the structure that starts with the extraction of raw materials and continues until the construction phase from cradle to gate. A wooden family house in Konya was chosen as case study and alternatives created with different structural systems and their environmental impacts were compared in the context of embodied carbon and energy. Among these three construction systems, wooden structure appeared as the most environmentally friendly construction system in terms of lowest carbon and energy values. Reinforced concrete alternative and steel alternative followed it respectively. Wooden structures have been observed to be the most sustainable alternative in the context of low-rise housing with the advantege of both low production energy and low carbon emissions. Keywords: Embodied Energy, Embodied Carbon, Life Cycle Assessment, Sustainable Architecture