A proposed framework for measuring direct and indirect carbon emissions in the operational phase of a construction project: a case study

ABSTRACT

The construction sector is one of the most significant contributors to the carbon footprint. Buildings are primarily responsible for emitting high levels of carbon throughout their entire life cycle, from construction to operation and disposal. Researchers have discussed carbon dioxide emissions from different references and ways of reduction and mitigation techniques to cease rising temperatures and global warming. The various sources of greenhouse emissions in the construction industry are discussed in this paper to understand their negative impact better. A framework is developed for the buildings’ operational phase. It is used to quantify that effect and physical properties to measurables to assist policymakers, stakeholders, and decision-makers in making better decisions and choices to reduce carbon emissions during the operation process. This framework aims to make it more flexible, easy to use for stakeholders, involves their feedback from the beginning of the process, and applies to the ground. Furthermore, a case study was applied to the Nile University operational phase to test the eligibility of the proposed framework in calculating the carbon emissions of a medium-scale building.

KEYWORDS:

• Carbon footprint
• carbon emissions
• construction industry
• operations phase
• case study

Disclosure statement

There are no relevant competing interests.

Data availability statement

Data available on request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Science and Technology Development Fund [43204].

Notes on contributors

Hagar Hammad

Hagar Hammad In 2021 she earned her BSC in Architecture Engineering at Ainshams University, Egypt. She won first place in EERI-SDC Competition in 2021;

Yasmin Elhakim

Yasmin Elhakim She was a PhD student at the American University in Cairo. She is involved in multiple research topics related to advancements in the construction industry. She won the Mohamed Bin Abdulkarim A. Allehedan Award in 2020 for demonstrating excellence in sciences and engineering studies from the American University in Cairo;

Yara Hossam

Yara HossamIndustrial engineer and Research Assistant, Smart Engineering Systems Research Center, Nile University, Cairo, Egypt;

Mohamed Mahmoud

Mohamed Mahmoud Thirty-one years of in-depth successful experience in Engineering firms, Project Management and General management experience in many consultant engineering offices and contracting companies. I finished my BSc. in Civil Engineering, Cairo University, Egypt, in 1991, then earned my master’s and PhD. in Architectural Engineering at Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt;

Tawfik Ismail

Tawfik Ismail He manages several types of research in implementing optical transceivers for FSO and PON. Dr Tawfik is currently the CoPI of an Optical Access Network – FPGA-based research project funded by NTRA (National Telecom Regularity Authority) in collaboration with the University of Toronto, Canada.;

Irene S. Fahim

Irene S. Fahim Associate Professor, Industrial and Service Engineering and Management department, Nile University Cairo, Egypt. She is the Director of the Smart Engineering systems research centre at Nile University. She won the state encouragement award for women 2020, the Hazem Ezzat Research Excellence Award 2021 and the Loreal UNESCO for Women in Science 2021 Egypt young talents program. She received a grant for Egypt Higher Education Climate change partnerships Grants in collaboration with Nottingham University and the British Council.