Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and energy analysis of prefabricated reusable building modules

Abstract

Prefabrication is one strategy considered to provide improved environmental performance for building construction. However, there is an absence of detailed scientific research or case studies dealing with the potential environmental benefits of prefabrication, particularly the embodied energy savings resulting from waste reduction and the improved efficiency of material usage. This paper aims to quantify the embodied energy of modular prefabricated steel and timber multi-residential buildings in order to determine whether this form of construction provides improved environmental performance over conventional concrete construction methods. Furthermore this paper assesses the potential benefit..