Are sustainable buildings healthy? An investigation of lifecycle relationship between building sustainability and its environmental health impacts
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/WJSTSD-01-2016-0015 |
| Published date | 11 July 2016 |
| Date | 11 July 2016 |
| Pages | 190-204 |
| Author | Saheed O. Ajayi,Lukumon O. Oyedele,Babatunde Jaiyeoba,Kabir Kadiri,Sunday Aderemi David |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management,Environmental technology & innovation |
Are sustainable buildings
healthy? An investigation of
lifecycle relationship between
building sustainability and its
environmental health impacts
Saheed O. Ajayi and Lukumon O. Oyedele
Bristol Enterprise, Research and Innovation Centre (BERIC),
University of West of England, Bristol, UK, and
Babatunde Jaiyeoba, Kabir Kadiri and Sunday Aderemi David
Faculty of Environmental Design and Management,
Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun, Nigeria
Abstract
Purpose –There have been speculations as to whether environmental friendly buildings are always
healthy. Using lifecycle assessment (LCA) methodology, the purpose of this paper is to investigate
lifecycle relationship between building sustainability and its environmental health impacts
Design/methodology/approach –In order to achieve this, a block of classroom was modelled
with the aid of Revit software, and its lifecycle global warming potential (GWP) and human health
impacts were analysed using green building studio and ATHENA impact estimator tools.
Sensitivity analyses of the block of classrooms were then carried out by varying the building
materials and energy use pattern of the original typology. The LCA was performed for seven
alternative typologies that were achieved through variation in the building materials and energy
use patterns.
Findings –For all the eight building typologies, the study shows a direct relationship between
GWPs and human health impacts. This confirms that the more sustainable a building, the less its
tendency for having negative health effects on building operatives, occupants and the wider
environment. Again, the more green a building in terms of its materials and energy use pattern, the
healthier the building becomes.
Research limitations/implications –The human health impacts was evaluated by measuring
amount of particulate matter (PM2.5) produced by the buildings while environmental impact was
evaluated by measuring global warming (KgCO
2
) potentials of the buildings throughout its lifecycle.
The study has been based on the impacts of building materials and energy use patterns over the entire
lifecycle of the buildings and materials used for construction.
Originality/value –The study established a positive relationship between GWP of building and its
human health impacts. Thus, all arguments relating to the relationship between building sustainability
and health are laid to rest by the paper.
Keywords Sustainable environment, Assessment, Health, Environmental management,
Global warming potential, Carbon emissions
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
As a result of its contribution of substantial portion of CO
2
in the atmosphere
(Baek et al., 2013), consumption of large mineral resources (Anink et al., 1996) and
generation of largest proportion of landfill waste (Oyedele et al., 2014), construction
World Journal of Science,
Technology and Sustainable
Development
Vol. 13 No. 3, 2016
pp. 190-204
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
2042-5945
DOI 10.1108/WJSTSD-01-2016-0015
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2042-5945.htm
190
WJSTSD
13,3
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