1. LVL AS A CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL 1.5.4 Global warming impact of buildings The life cycle of a building covers all life cycle stages from ‘cradle to grave’ as well as, optionally, also the benefits and loads beyond the building’s life cycle. These life cycles stages are presented as modules A1–C4 + D (Figure 1.17). The environmental performance of a wood-frame building, and a concrete-frame building were assessed based on a generic Finnish Table 1.5. Scenarios of a wooden frame building and a concrete frame building 9, 10. building type (a 4-storey residential building) 9, 10. The assessment was done according to the EN 15978 standard, with the specific assumptions presented in Table 1.5. The global warming potential of the whole life cycle and beyond is 798 kg CO2e/m2 for a wood-frame building and 1022 kg CO2e/m2 for a concrete-frame building (Figure 1.20). Figure 1.20. Global warming potential (GWP) of a wood-frame building vs. a concrete-frame building 10. LVL 01, Table 1.4. B Concrete-frame Wood-frame System boundary 4-storey residential building, gross floor area 1922 bm2, concrete structure, wooden roof structure, all technical installation included (HVAC, piping, electricity), energy supply based on average Finnish heat and electricity 4-storey residential building, gross floor area 1922 bm2, first floor concrete structure, other floors wood structures, all technical installation included (HVAC, piping, electricity), energy supply based on average Finnish heat and electricity Reference period 50 years 50 years Service life Windows replaced once Windows replaced once, external cladding (wood) painting every 10th year End of life Concrete: crushing and recycling for ground construction Wood: chipping and energy recovery Concrete: crushing and recycling for ground construction Wood: chipping and energy recovery Benefits and loads beyond system boundary (module D) Concrete: carbonization Wood: bioenergy carbon emissions compared to natural gas emissions Concrete: carbonization Wood: bioenergy carbon emissions compared to natural gas emissions LVL Handbook Europe 25
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