Abstract:
Amidst increasing concerns about environmental impacts such as global warming,
greenhouse gas emission, and air pollution, the world is trying to find measures to
mitigate these impacts. The construction industry plays a major role in this regard.
Sustainable building construction seeks to minimize the negative environmental impacts
from buildings by enhancing efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy,
and development space. There are only a few studies that relate to the impacts of building
materials on the three pillars of sustainability in the Sri Lankan context. This study
investigates the most suitable wall material for an urban residential building in Sri Lanka
to satisfy the environmental, social, and economic sustainability requirements. Wall
materials considered in the study are solid concrete blocks, hollow concrete blocks, burnt
clay bricks, and compressed soil bricks. The environmental burdens associated with
embodied energy and CO2 emission were identified using the cradle-to-gate life cycle
assessment of the wall materials, while the life cycle cost of materials was used for
economic analysis. Also, social aspects related to wall materials such as thermal comfort
and aesthetics were considered in identifying the sustainability of wall materials. Data
related to raw material extraction, material production, and transportation were collected
from visiting material manufacturing facilities and conducting interviews with relevant
personnel. The three sustainability aspects of each wall material were compared using a
sustainability index and compressed soil bricks were identified as the best wall material to
be used for urban residential buildings in Sri Lanka.
Keywords: Residential buildings, Sri Lanka, Sustainability, Sustainability index, Wall
materials
