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The construction industry is a key driver of environmental change due to its extensive use of resources and high emissions, thus significantly burdening global efforts towards sustainable development targets. A large portion of the environmental footprint of buildings results from the energy required to sustain indoor comfort levels. Thus, enhancing the energy efficiency of existing buildings becomes critical in reducing their environmental impact. This study explores the impact of thermal performance improvements on the heating demand, employing numerical modeling and two energy performance methodologies, PHPP and Mc001-2022, across various climatic datasets and case studies in Romania. The results show substantial variability in heating demand predictions: Mc001-2022 predicts up to 27.2% higher continuous heating demands and 21.0% higher intermittent demands compared to PHPP in one case study. In the second case study, the differences range from 8.1% higher to 6.9% lower for continuous heating and from 3.3% higher to 9.9% lower for intermittent heating, depending on the scenario. These findings underscore the importance of the methodological choice and localized climatic data in heating demand assessments, highlighting the need for a tailored, context-specific approach to energy performance assessment, integrating multiple energy efficiency measures suited to the unique characteristics of each building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades, the effects of the climate change phenomena and the consumption rates of raw materials have led to an increasing awareness regarding the need of implementing the sustainable development concept at the global scale. The activities we complete each day have a direct negative influence over the current situation of the natural ecosystems, and therefore it is highly important to understand and reduce at the same time our global environmental footprint. One of the most significant economic activities that has at the same time a major influence over human well being and a tremendous impact over the environment is represented by the construction sector. Considering the level of pollutants emitted into the air, water and soil that are related to the built environment, it can be stated that this sector represents a critical factor in achieving global sustainability. Therefore, it is essential that civil engineering specialists clearly understand the negative ecological effect of the materials and structural elements that are currently being used, in order to promote solutions with a low level of environmental influence. Taking under account the above, the authors aim at comparing the influence over the natural environment of a long-span beam made from different structural materials, in order to clearly determine the solution that implies a low level of negative environmental impact. In order to achieve this objective, the Gabi software was used and the Life Cycle Assessment has been considered. The resulted values attained by taking under study the cradle-to-cradle approach justify considering the linear element made by using glued laminated timber as a solution that can be successfully used in achieving the sustainability goals in the built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The production of building materials is a significant component of the impact the construction sector has on the natural environment. Steel is among the most utilized materials, having various applications specific to the built environment. Therefore, understanding the impact of this structural material represents an important step in achieving global sustainable development. The paper aims to analyze the effects of different steel structural elements on the Earth's ecosystem with respect to concerns over sustainability. In order to reach this goal, the authors have analyzed a dwelling steel structure based on cubic modules with high structural modularity. In addition, the study looks at the influence of an over the floor reinforced concrete slab in order to gain an overall view regarding environmental performances. The impact on the natural environment has been analyzed by considering the cradle-to gate with options Life Cycle Assessment study. The paper provides up-to-date knowledge on the environmental performances of the analyzed structure, presenting encouraging conclusions for construction sector specialists with respect to the use of steel as a material that can represent a solution in the current global effort to minimize the environmental burdens imposed by the construction sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]