Renewable Substitutability Index: Maximizing Renewable Resource Use in Buildings

Srinivasan, R.S., Campbell, D.E., Wang, W., 2015. Renewable substitutability index: maximizing renewable resource use in buildings. Buildings 5, (2), pp.581-596.https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings5020581

Title:

Renewable Substitutability Index: Maximizing Renewable Resource Use in Buildings

Research aim and objectives:

To examine the development of a Renewable Substitutability Index (RSI) designed to maximize the use of renewable resources in a building as well as quantifying the substitution process using solar emergy.

Data collection methods used:

RSI assessment methodology for calculation of the RSI values

Main findings

A higher RSI achieves a low-energy building strategy promoting a higher order of sustainability by optimizing the use of renewables over a building’s lifetime from formation-extraction-manufacturing to maintenance, operation, demolition, and recycle.

Limitations of the study:

            Lack of an elaborate database of building materials’ specific emergy values with accurate data on renewable resource use.

Directions for future research:

Calculation of the Renewable Substitutability of energy sources requires additional effort to provide location-specific values.

Srour, I.M., Chehab, G.R., and Gharib, N., 2012. Recycling construction materials in a developing country: four case studies. International Journal of Engineering Management and Economics 2, 3(1-2), pp.135-151.

Title:

Recycling construction materials in a developing country: four case studies

Research aim and objectives:

To identify and assesses the existing levels of awareness and implementation of sustainability practices amongst the different participants in the Lebanese construction industry

Data collection methods used:

Case study survey methodology

Main findings:

The results indicate an acceptable level of awareness, but a mediocre level of implementation of sustainable practices, which were limited to green design efforts and uncoordinated attempts at recycling construction demolition materials.

Limitations of the study:

Lack of clear legal procedures

Directions for future research:

Stakeholder level of awareness

Ajayi, S.O., Oyedele, L.O., Bilal, M., Akinade, O.O., Alaka, H.A., and Owolabi, H.A., 2017. Critical management practices influencing on-site waste minimization in construction projects. Waste management, 59, pp.330-339.

Title:

Critical Management Practices Influencing On-site Waste Minimization in Construction Projects

Research aim and objective

To explore critical management practices capable of influencing on-site waste minimization

Data collection methods used:

Descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis

Main findings:

Site management functions could significantly reduce waste generation

Limitations of the study:

Adequate data from professionals, costly

Directions for future research:

Further studies could evaluate the generalizability of the findings to other regions since this study was limited to the UK

Udawatta, N., Zuo, J., Chiveralls, K., and Zillante, G., 2015. Improving waste management in construction projects: An Australian study. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 101, pp.73-83.

Title:

Improving waste management in construction projects: An Australian study

Research aim and objectives:

To determine effective approaches to eliminate and/or minimize waste generation in construction projects

Data collection methods used:

Mixed methods approach

Main findings

The findings reveal twenty-six critical solutions for waste management

Limitations of the study:

Cultural context and geographical location

Directions for future research:

Further research opportunities exist to explore how these solutions can be applied in different project types with different procurement methods and other stakeholder groups

Roth, L., 2005. Reuse of construction materials: Environmental performance and assessment methodology (Doctoral dissertation, Institutionen för konstruktions-och produktionsteknik).

Title:

Reuse of construction materials - Environmental performance and assessment methodology

Research aim and objectives

To examine under which conditions reuse of construction materials in the Swedish building and transportation sectors is beneficial to the environment

Data collection methods used:

Environmental assessment methods

Main findings:

The environmental performance of reuse could be beneficial under certain specific conditions

Limitations of the study

Application of narrow system boundaries excluded the potential benefits of reuse

Directions for future research:

Implications on construction materials, when addressed properly in the future would contribute more knowledge concerning the recycling of construction materials

Giesekam, J., Barrett, J.R., and Taylor, P., 2016. Construction sector views on low carbon building materials. Building Research & Information, 44(4), pp.423-444.

Title:

Construction sector views on low carbon building materials

Research aim and objectives

To understand the economic, technical, practical, and cultural barriers preventing construction professionals from selecting a variety of materials commonly identified as being lower in embodied carbon

Data collection methods used:

Qualitative mixed-method approach, survey, and series of semi-structured interviews

Main findings:

The identified barriers potentially prevent alternative material choice as a means of mitigating embodied carbon emissions

Limitations of the study:

The study population fell below required standards, poor response from professionals

Directions for future research:

Much additional data gathering is needed to develop robust project level benchmarks. Further research is also required to resolve the debate around the most appropriate means of regulating embodied carbon, and detailed proposals require development

Adams, K.T., Osmani, M., Thorpe, T., and Thornback, J., 2017, February. Circular economy in construction: current awareness, challenges, and enablers. In Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Waste and Resource Management (Vol. 170, No. 1, pp. 15-24). Thomas Telford Ltd. 

Title:

Circular economy in construction: current awareness, challenges, and enablers

Research aim and objectives:

To provide an indication of the awareness levels of circular economy in the construction sector

Data collection methods used:

The quantitative approach, in the form of an online survey and a qualitative approach

Main findings:

Despite the existence of an industry-wide awareness of the concept, clients, designers, and subcontractors are the least informed, which provides a key challenge for greater adoption.

Limitations of the study:

A larger obstacle is the existing stock of buildings and infrastructure where circularity principles have not been adopted.

Directions for future research:

Further research required on the elaborate recovery of materials

Gangolells, M., Casals, M., Forcada, N., and Macarulla, M., 2014. Analysis of the implementation of effective waste management practices in construction projects and sites. Resources, conservation, and recycling, 93, pp.99-111. 

Title:

Analysis of the implementation of effective waste management practices in construction projects and sites

Research aim and objectives:

To better understand the current status of construction and demolition waste management in construction projects and sites.

Data collection methods used:

The quantitative method by means of closed questions survey

Main findings:

The most commonly implemented practices included on-site cleanliness alongside order, appropriate storage of raw materials, as well as prioritization of the nearest authorized waste managers

Limitations of the study:

Limited responses from professionals

Directions for future research:

Future research on the analysis of the adequacy of the reuse and recycling capacity of the construction waste management facilities. Use larger sample size and diversity in order to be able to study the influence of the respondent’s role