Evaluation of the Energy-Positive Aspects for Optimal Construction Efficiency through Material Realism

Abstract

Developing upon the tenets of SDG 7 and SDG 11, this paper studies the relationship between materials used in 21st century construction and their characteristic scope for energy-positive application in the housing segment of India against the levels and criterias of ‘Optimal Construction Efficiency through Material Realism’ (OCEMR). Hence, the hypothesis of the research is that ‘climate considerate architecture’ can become ‘climate-positive architecture’ upon application of optimization techniques to improve the construction efficiency by understanding a material and its construction processes and their many aspects to lower corresponding Global Warming Potential (GWP). In this paper, the concept of an OCEMR is analysed and later formulated based on variables like material choice, regionality of materials, mode of application of materials, available range of alternative material and technology, lifecycle studies of materials, the materials’ timeline of carbon emissions, et cetera. Certain factors deduced through a base case using One-click LCA suggest relationships between the aforementioned variables which can be used to measure material-oriented choices in construction against a framework to optimise sustainability, affordability of construction efficiency.