Author(s): Alexei Sokolova

Abstract: The construction industry, a cornerstone of global economic growth, significantly impacts the environment through extensive energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This study investigates the potential of green building materials to mitigate environmental degradation in large-scale infrastructure projects. The primary objective is to evaluate the environmental performance of materials such as bamboo, recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), fly ash concrete, engineered wood, and geopolymer cement compared to traditional Portland cement using lifecycle analysis (LCA). The study employs a standardized LCA framework aligned with ISO 14040 and 14044, analysing key lifecycle stages—production, transportation, operation, and disposal—using metrics like global warming potential (GWP), energy consumption, and resource depletion. Data was collected from recognized databases, including Eco invent and Gabi, and statistical analyses such as one-way ANOVA and sensitivity analyses were applied to validate the findings. Results indicate that green building materials significantly outperform Portland cement, reducing GWP by up to 80% and energy consumption by 50%. Bamboo emerged as the most sustainable option, with the lowest GWP and resource depletion values. Geopolymer cement demonstrated promising performance for high-strength applications. Statistical analyses validated these findings, with significant differences observed in GWP among materials (F=45.2, p<0.001F = 45.2, p < 0.001). Practical recommendations include implementing regulatory incentives, optimizing transportation logistics, and enhancing R&D initiatives to improve scalability and cost-efficiency. Public-private partnerships and awareness programs are also essential to promote the adoption of green materials. This study concludes that integrating green building materials into infrastructure projects can significantly reduce environmental impacts and contribute to sustainability goals. By addressing economic and logistical barriers, these materials hold the potential to transform the construction industry into a more sustainable sector.

Pages: 29-33 | Views: 62 | Downloads: 29

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