Nowadays, the desire and the necessity to reduce the contribution of the building sector to the emissions of greenhouse gasses has become increasingly popular and widely shared by many governments and institutions. The purpose of this thesis work is to investigate the topic of carbon footprint related to the construction industry, more precisely it concerns the field of the curtain wall façade systems. The goal of this study is to propose a reliable methodology and example of an LCA analysis performed on different façade typologies aiming to outline the critical areas which contribute the most to the CO2 emissions as well as providing solutions in order to mitigate the impact on the environment. To achieve these goals, seventeen different façade modules have been designed and compared in terms of kgCO2e/m2, in order to understand how impactful each design choices is. Following these first design choices, it has been realised a parametric 3D model for each façade modules previously mentioned using the Rhinoceros/Grasshopper software, from which it has been possible to derive the quantities of each façade components and proceed with the LCA analysis. Regarding the methodology used for the analysis, it has been followed the guidelines provided by the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology which provides a detailed procedure, outlined step by step, to perform an LCA analysis specifically on façades. Thanks to these analyses and comparisons, this study has been able to highlights the critical aspects in terms of materials and LCA phases regarding the whole life of a façade module. Glass has been recognized as the material with the greatest impact on CO2 emissions due to the high number of processes needed for the realisation of a component as well as a great embodied carbon factor value linked to the production phase. Speaking of LCA phases, from this study, emerged also the necessity to act on the LCA modules related to the production, installation and replacement of each façade component since they are the most critical areas detected in all the analyses. With this being said, this thesis, aims to provide valuable insights regarding the application of a reliable procedure for the LCA analysis of a façade system while offering as well possible solutions, based on the critical analysis of the results, for the reduction of CO2 emissions.
Attualmente, il desiderio e la necessità di ridurre il contributo del settore dell'edilizia nelle emissioni di gas serra sono diventati sempre più celebri e ampiamente condivisi da molti governi e istituzioni. Lo scopo di questa tesi è quello di indagare il tema dell'impronta di carbonio legato al settore delle costruzioni, più precisamente, nel campo dei sistemi di facciata continua. L'obiettivo di questo studio è quello di proporre una metodologia affidabile ed un esempio di analisi LCA eseguita su diverse tipologie di facciata con l'obiettivo di delineare le aree critiche che contribuiscono maggiormente alle emissioni di CO2 e fornire soluzioni per mitigare l'impatto sull’ambiente. Per raggiungere questi obiettivi, diciassette diversi moduli di facciata sono stati progettati e confrontati in termini di kgCO2e/m2, al fine di comprendere l'impatto di ogni scelta progettuale. A seguito di queste prime scelte progettuali, è stato realizzato un modello 3D parametrico per ogni modulo di facciata utilizzando il software Rhinoceros/Grasshopper, da cui è stato possibile ricavare le quantità di ogni componente di facciata e procedere con l'analisi LCA. Per quanto riguarda la metodologia utilizzata per l'analisi, sono state seguite le linee guida fornite dal Centre for Window and Cladding Technology che fornisce una procedura dettagliata, spiegata passo dopo passo, su come eseguire un'analisi LCA specifica per le facciate. Grazie a queste analisi e successivi confronti, questa tesi ha potuto evidenziare gli aspetti critici riguardanti i materiali e le fasi LCA dell'intera vita di un modulo di facciata. Il vetro è stato riconosciuto come il materiale con il maggiore impatto sulle emissioni di CO2 a causa dell'elevato numero di processi necessari per la realizzazione di un componente ed a un elevato valore di embodied carbon factor legato alla fase di produzione. Riguardo le fasi LCA, da questo studio è emersa anche la necessità di agire sui moduli LCA relativi alla produzione, installazione e sostituzione di ogni componente di facciata in quanto sono le aree più critiche rilevate da tutte le analisi. Detto questo, la tesi, mira a fornire preziose informazioni e strumenti per l’applicazione di una procedura affidabile per l'analisi LCA di un sistema di facciata, offrendo, al contempo, possibili soluzioni, basate sull'analisi critica dei risultati, per la riduzione delle emissioni di CO2.
Carbon footprint of curtain walls: a parametric design tool supporting comparative analyses of different façade alternatives
Bonfanti, Nicole
2022/2023
Abstract
Nowadays, the desire and the necessity to reduce the contribution of the building sector to the emissions of greenhouse gasses has become increasingly popular and widely shared by many governments and institutions. The purpose of this thesis work is to investigate the topic of carbon footprint related to the construction industry, more precisely it concerns the field of the curtain wall façade systems. The goal of this study is to propose a reliable methodology and example of an LCA analysis performed on different façade typologies aiming to outline the critical areas which contribute the most to the CO2 emissions as well as providing solutions in order to mitigate the impact on the environment. To achieve these goals, seventeen different façade modules have been designed and compared in terms of kgCO2e/m2, in order to understand how impactful each design choices is. Following these first design choices, it has been realised a parametric 3D model for each façade modules previously mentioned using the Rhinoceros/Grasshopper software, from which it has been possible to derive the quantities of each façade components and proceed with the LCA analysis. Regarding the methodology used for the analysis, it has been followed the guidelines provided by the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology which provides a detailed procedure, outlined step by step, to perform an LCA analysis specifically on façades. Thanks to these analyses and comparisons, this study has been able to highlights the critical aspects in terms of materials and LCA phases regarding the whole life of a façade module. Glass has been recognized as the material with the greatest impact on CO2 emissions due to the high number of processes needed for the realisation of a component as well as a great embodied carbon factor value linked to the production phase. Speaking of LCA phases, from this study, emerged also the necessity to act on the LCA modules related to the production, installation and replacement of each façade component since they are the most critical areas detected in all the analyses. With this being said, this thesis, aims to provide valuable insights regarding the application of a reliable procedure for the LCA analysis of a façade system while offering as well possible solutions, based on the critical analysis of the results, for the reduction of CO2 emissions.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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2024_04_Bonfanti.pdf
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/218072