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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Recentemente a consciencialização global de que os ecossistemas terrestres são frágeis e
grandemente afetados pelos impactos ambientais das atividades humanas, tem levado à
adoção de novos ideais de evolução, baseados num desenvolvimento sustentável. Sendo o
sector da construção uma das áreas mais geradora de subprodutos e consumidora de recursos
naturais, tornou-se sensato encaminhá-la numa abordagem de construção sustentável.
O caminho para a sustentabilidade tem sido pautado por inúmeras soluções construtivas que
são contempladas no desenvolvimento de edifícios. No entanto, os impactos ambientais
decorrentes do processo construtivo continuam a ser inúmeros. É, então, importante repensar
a sustentabilidade desde a conceção do edifício, partindo logo da escolha dos materiais.
Partindo destas premissas, avaliou-se o sistema construtivo em aço leve. Optou-se por
analisar este sistema, visto a sua introdução em Portugal ser recente e, ainda, não existirem
dados concretos acerca do seu comportamento ambiental no contexto nacional. Como tal,
pretendeu-se comparar a performance ambiental do sistema construtivo em aço leve com o
sistema construtivo tradicional (betão armado). Deste modo, é possível concluir se o aço leve
consiste numa alternativa viável ao sistema construtivo tradicional.
Para atingir este objetivo, utilizou-se a Avaliação de Ciclo de Vida. Esta é uma metodologia
que contabiliza e sistematiza o comportamento ambiental de produtos (e.g. sistema
construtivo), permitindo comparar de modo objetivo vários produtos alternativos. Através da
ferramenta informática “Athena™ Impact Estimator for Buildings”, foi possível aplicar esta
metodologia e comparar o uso do aço leve e do betão armado. Com a elaboração de um
projeto de habitação único, apresentado segundo dois modelos que diferem apenas no
sistema construtivo, foi possível analisar e contabilizar os impactos ambientais com mais
relevo na construção: consumo de combustíveis fósseis, potencial de aquecimento global,
potencial de acidificação, partículas perigosas à saúde humana, potencial de eutrofização,
potencial de degradação da camada de ozono e potencial de formação de poluição.
Os resultados obtidos sugerem que o sistema construtivo em aço leve oferece amplas
vantagens ambientais face ao betão armado. A sua implementação deve ser criteriosamente
avaliada, com vista às possíveis vantagens que este pode trazer à construção sustentável.
Nowadays, a global awareness of the earth’s ecosystems frailty and their susceptibility to the environmental burden of human activities, has led to the adoption of new ideals of evolution, based on sustainable development. Being the construction sector one of the areas generating more byproducts and consuming more natural resources, became wise to refer it on a sustainable construction pathway. This route towards sustainability has been guided by innumerous constructive solutions to be used in the development of buildings. However, the environmental burdens caused by the construction process are still large at number. Still, is important to rethink sustainability from the conception of buildings, starting at the choice of materials. Starting with this premises, the Light Steel Framing was evaluated. It was opted to analyze this system, since it is of recent introduction in Portugal and there aren’t factual data concerning its environmental behavior in the national context. As such, it was intended to compare the environmental performance of Light Steel Framing and traditional constructive system (reinforced concrete). Thus, it’s possible to conclude if light steel consist of a viable alternative to reinforced concrete. To reach this end, a Life Cycle Assessment was used. This is a methodology that accounts and systematizes the environmental behavior of products (e.g. constructive system), allowing an objective comparison between several alternative products. Through “Athena™ Impact Estimator for Buildings” software, it was possible to apply this methodology and compare the usage of light steel and reinforced concrete. With the elaboration of a unique housing project, presented according two models which differ only in the constructive system, it was possible to analyze and account the environmental impacts with the largest significance to construction: fossil fuel consumption, global warming potential, acidification potential, human health particulate, eutrophication potential, ozone depletion potential and smog potential. The obtained results suggest that Light Steel Framing offer wide environmental advantages against reinforced concrete. Its implementation should be judiciously evaluated, viewing the possible advantages which can bring to sustainable construction.
Nowadays, a global awareness of the earth’s ecosystems frailty and their susceptibility to the environmental burden of human activities, has led to the adoption of new ideals of evolution, based on sustainable development. Being the construction sector one of the areas generating more byproducts and consuming more natural resources, became wise to refer it on a sustainable construction pathway. This route towards sustainability has been guided by innumerous constructive solutions to be used in the development of buildings. However, the environmental burdens caused by the construction process are still large at number. Still, is important to rethink sustainability from the conception of buildings, starting at the choice of materials. Starting with this premises, the Light Steel Framing was evaluated. It was opted to analyze this system, since it is of recent introduction in Portugal and there aren’t factual data concerning its environmental behavior in the national context. As such, it was intended to compare the environmental performance of Light Steel Framing and traditional constructive system (reinforced concrete). Thus, it’s possible to conclude if light steel consist of a viable alternative to reinforced concrete. To reach this end, a Life Cycle Assessment was used. This is a methodology that accounts and systematizes the environmental behavior of products (e.g. constructive system), allowing an objective comparison between several alternative products. Through “Athena™ Impact Estimator for Buildings” software, it was possible to apply this methodology and compare the usage of light steel and reinforced concrete. With the elaboration of a unique housing project, presented according two models which differ only in the constructive system, it was possible to analyze and account the environmental impacts with the largest significance to construction: fossil fuel consumption, global warming potential, acidification potential, human health particulate, eutrophication potential, ozone depletion potential and smog potential. The obtained results suggest that Light Steel Framing offer wide environmental advantages against reinforced concrete. Its implementation should be judiciously evaluated, viewing the possible advantages which can bring to sustainable construction.
Description
Keywords
Avaliação de Ciclo de Vida Construção Sustentável Sistema Construtivo Em Aço Leve