The effect of material choice on the total energy need and recycling potential of a building

Minimizing the use of energy is a central task in sustainable building. Minimizing the use of natural resources and maximizing the recycling potential are other important tasks to take into consideration. In low-energy buildings, the embodied energy accounts for a considerable part of the total energy use of the building. Therefore, it is also imperative to pay attention to the choice of building materials used. This article presents how material choice may affect both embodied energy and recycling potential in one of the most energy efficient apartment-type housing projects in Sweden (calculated energy for operation is 45 kWh/m2 floor area per year). Initially, the embodied energy was 40% of total energy needed for a lifetime expectancy of 50 years. Through material substitution, the embodied energy can be decreased by approximately 17% or increased by about 6%.