Actions to reduce carbon footprint in materials to healthcare buildings

Abstract

Building sector is a major contributor to the emissions of pollutant gases, which are responsible for health-damaging effects of climate change. To quantify and reduce these emissions. This comparative study is presented between two buildings that could have a sanitary or any other type of use. Both buildings have similar characteristics, except for their structures, one made of metal and the other of concrete. The design, structural calculation and three-dimensional dimensioning were performed using Building Information Modeling (BIM). The budget and the product carbon footprint study were also carried out, to calculate the level of emissions of each building. The study determined higher emissions for the metal-structured building, with 621.234 tCO₂/tₘₐₜₑᵣᵢₐₗ compared to 446.707 tCO₂/tₘₐₜₑᵣᵢₐₗ for the concrete building. To reduce these emissions, measures related to the replacement of the previously selected materials, by other materials with lower emission rates and identical functionality were presented, such as the replacement of metal building roof polyurethane, or the composition of cement for the concrete building. Both actions represented a reduction of 84.61% CO₂ emissions for metal envelope building and 31.765% for the concrete structure. The results of this work will help to select more sustainable materials to use in the renovation of existing buildings, or in the construction of new buildings. For example, health-related buildings, currently in high demand, given the current pandemic situation caused by COVID-19.