Rauf, A; Shafiq, M T; Khalfan, M M A and Ulhaq, I (2024) Sustainable water management in construction: Life-cycle embodied water assessment of residential buildings. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 14(5), pp. 682-696. ISSN 2044-124X
Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to enhance our understanding of sustainable water management in construction through a life-cycle embodied water assessment of a villa in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It provides insights and recommendations for improving the water efficiency by identifying areas for potential embodied water saving and reduction in environmental impacts in the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses a life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach and focuses on a UAE villa as a case study. It analyses the embodied water consumption during construction (initial embodied water) and maintenance (recurrent embodied water) using an input–output-based hybrid analysis. Additionally, it compares the embodied water observations with the operational water usage and comprehensively evaluates the water consumption in the villa’s life-cycle. Findings: The initial (28%) and recurrent embodied water (42%) represent significant proportions of a building’s life-cycle water demand. The structural elements, predominantly concrete and steel, contribute 40% of the initial embodied water consumption. This emphasises the importance of minimising the water usage in these materials. Similarly, internal finishes account for 47% of the recurrent embodied water. This emphasises the importance of evaluating the material service life. Practical implications: These findings indicate the efficacy of using durable materials with low embodiment and water-efficient construction methods. Additionally, collaborative research between academia, industry, and the government is recommended in conjunction with advocating for policies promoting low embodied-water materials and transparency in the construction sector through embodied water footprint reporting. Originality/value: Previous studies focused on the operational water and marginally addressed the initial embodied water. Meanwhile, this study highlights the significance of the initial and recurrent embodied water in the life-cycle water demand. It emphasises on the need for adaptable buildings with reduced embodied water and more durable materials to minimise the requirement for frequent material replacements.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | embodied water; materials; residential buildings; service life |
| Index terms: | case study, residential building, service life, efficiency, construction method, sustainable water management, environmental impact, academia, finishes, adaptable building, methodology, replacement, transparency, construction sector, construction industry, United Arab Emirates, water consumption |
| Subjects: | performance management, research methods, professional development, Geography, water management, educational institutions, asset management, building construction, industry analysis, user focus, construction type, data collection methods, materials science, environmental impact, building materials, environmental resource management |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Construction Technology, Business Strategy, Information Management, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Education, Site Management, Design Practice, Quality Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here