Investigation of the environmental impacts of rammed earth and fired clay bricks by using life cycle assessment method
Subject Areas : Air Pollution
Hamed Nouri
1
(Ph.D. Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. )
Majid Safehian
2
(Assistant Professor, Department of civil engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. *(Corresponding Author))
S.M. Mir Mohammad Hosseini
3
( Professor, Department of Civil Engineering & Environmental, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.)
Keywords: Rammed earth, Life cycle assessment, Fired clay brick, Carbon emission.,
Abstract :
Background and Objective: The use of different types of bricks as construction materials has been considered by humans for many years. The use of earthen materials has low potential environmental impacts than other industrial materials. This study aims to compare carbon emissions (LCCO2) and calculate energy consumption over the life cycle of these materials.
Material and Methodology: In this study, the environmental impacts of using fired clay bricks and rammed earth have been investigated and evaluated using the life cycle assessment method. Rammed earth consists of sand and clay compacted in its optimum moisture.
Findings: According to the study conducted in Kashan, for each ton of fired clay bricks produced in the entire life cycle chain, the embodied energy and carbon emissions are equivalent to 4804 MJ and 1287 Kg of CO2, respectively. In comparison, for one ton of rammed earth, only 158 MJ of energy are consumed and only 42 Kg of CO2 are emitted. Thus, the use of rammed earth in comparison with clay bricks reduces by 1245 kg/ton of CO2 production and 4646 MJ/ton (i.e., more than 95%) of embodied energy.
Discussion and conclusion: The use of rammed earth compared to clay bricks can be significantly effective in reducing the negative environmental impacts of construction. In addition, homeowners and builders identify the embodied energy and harmful carbon emissions from fired clay bricks as common construction materials.
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