Using BIM to research carbon footprint during the materialization phase of prefabricated concrete buildings: A China study

The development of prefabricated concrete (PC) buildings can potentially reduce the consumption of resources and energy, and meet the requirements of low carbon and environmental protection in the construction industry. Therefore, this study aims to investigate PC buildings and their carbon footprint in the materialization phase. Based on databases from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Chinese Life Cycle Database (CLCD), a database of carbon emission factors was compiled. A carbon footprint calculation model for the materialization phase of PC buildings was established combining with BIM technology. The obtained results indicate that the carbon footprint per unit area of PC construction projects is significantly lower than that of other building types. The carbon footprint of the production phase accounts for more than 90% of the total, and the carbon footprint per unit area of the transportation phase and the construction and installation phase are equivalent. The carbon emission of a building material on its degree of influence is ranked as cement, steel, concrete and wire. In addition, the results can also provide a theoretical support for the formulation of regulations and emission reduction policies based on building energy conservation and carbon emission reduction.