Evaluating the Environmental Impacts of Conventional Buildings at the Maintenance Phase Using Life Cycle Assessment

<p dir="ltr"><i>Although it is critical to design and construct buildings for long-term sustainability, there is a paucity of studies on the climatic effects of building material emissions during maintenance. This study employs life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental impacts (Acidification, eutrophication, global warming/climate change, and ozone depletion) of construction materials during the maintenance phase of a conventional residential building. Material quantities were derived from the building design, while additional data for the assessment were sourced from the Ecoinvent Ecoquery version 3.8 (2021) database, historical records and relevant literature. This study's conceptual framework is rooted in durability theory, focusing on material permanency and longevity. A baseline assessment was conducted using primary conventional materials, followed by iterative material replacement to optimise the evaluation. The frequency of replacement activities determines the emissions during maintenance, the building's service, and the assemblies and systems employed. Residential construction projects can utilise this material sustainability initiative to make their work more eco-friendly by replacing traditional components with low-emission alternatives. To decrease the frequency of material replacement and maintenance, designers, clients, contractors, and relevant stakeholders should constantly use materials with a longer duration to reduce their maintenance frequency.</i></p>