Understanding the lifecycle of materials is really important for future architects who care about being eco-friendly. Here’s why:
Looking at the whole life of building materials helps us see how they affect the environment, from when they are taken from the earth to when they are thrown away.
Did you know that buildings are responsible for nearly 40% of carbon emissions in the U.S.? That’s a lot! By studying materials through their lifecycle, architects can make smart choices that can reduce these emissions.
Lifecycle assessments (LCAs) show how much resources are used at each stage of a material's life:
Raw Material Extraction: This is about how taking materials can harm the environment, like cutting down forests or losing animal homes.
Manufacturing: Making things uses a lot of energy. For instance, making one ton of steel can release up to 1.8 tons of CO2 into the air.
Transportation: The farther materials travel, the more pollution they cause. For example, materials that are moved more than 500 miles can release an extra 1.3 kg of CO2 for each mile.
Construction: Waste from construction can make up 20% of all solid waste in landfills, according to the EPA.
End-of-life: About 70% of waste from building and demolition can be recycled. Knowing about lifecycles helps us recycle more.
Using sustainable materials can lower the impact on the environment. For example, using recycled materials can save up to 75% of the energy compared to using new materials. Architects can pick materials based on their LCA results to choose options that have less of an impact and make indoor spaces healthier.
Using sustainable materials can also save money. The National Institute of Building Sciences says improving how buildings use energy can save 100 to $200 per square foot.
More and more, governments are setting strict rules about emissions and being sustainable. For example, the European Union wants all buildings to be carbon-neutral by 2050. Knowing about material lifecycles helps architects follow these rules.
In short, understanding the lifecycle of materials isn’t just something to think about—it’s a must for architects who want to design in a sustainable way. By studying lifecycles, architects can make choices that lessen environmental harm, use resources wisely, save money, and meet new regulations. This way, we can create a greener and more sustainable world.
Understanding the lifecycle of materials is really important for future architects who care about being eco-friendly. Here’s why:
Looking at the whole life of building materials helps us see how they affect the environment, from when they are taken from the earth to when they are thrown away.
Did you know that buildings are responsible for nearly 40% of carbon emissions in the U.S.? That’s a lot! By studying materials through their lifecycle, architects can make smart choices that can reduce these emissions.
Lifecycle assessments (LCAs) show how much resources are used at each stage of a material's life:
Raw Material Extraction: This is about how taking materials can harm the environment, like cutting down forests or losing animal homes.
Manufacturing: Making things uses a lot of energy. For instance, making one ton of steel can release up to 1.8 tons of CO2 into the air.
Transportation: The farther materials travel, the more pollution they cause. For example, materials that are moved more than 500 miles can release an extra 1.3 kg of CO2 for each mile.
Construction: Waste from construction can make up 20% of all solid waste in landfills, according to the EPA.
End-of-life: About 70% of waste from building and demolition can be recycled. Knowing about lifecycles helps us recycle more.
Using sustainable materials can lower the impact on the environment. For example, using recycled materials can save up to 75% of the energy compared to using new materials. Architects can pick materials based on their LCA results to choose options that have less of an impact and make indoor spaces healthier.
Using sustainable materials can also save money. The National Institute of Building Sciences says improving how buildings use energy can save 100 to $200 per square foot.
More and more, governments are setting strict rules about emissions and being sustainable. For example, the European Union wants all buildings to be carbon-neutral by 2050. Knowing about material lifecycles helps architects follow these rules.
In short, understanding the lifecycle of materials isn’t just something to think about—it’s a must for architects who want to design in a sustainable way. By studying lifecycles, architects can make choices that lessen environmental harm, use resources wisely, save money, and meet new regulations. This way, we can create a greener and more sustainable world.