The air emission assessment of a South Korean traditional building during its life cycle

During its entire life cycle, a Korean traditional building produces various types of air emissions from the building material production, construction, operation, maintenance, demolition, and recycling and disposal stages, along with related transportation activities. This study investigates the life cycle air emissions of a building of this type located in Seoul, South Korea. The results of this study demonstrate that it produces 143,843.7 kg of CO2, 1466.01 kg of CO, 686.22 kg of NOX, 475.99 kg of SO2, 280.59 kg of NMVOC, 274.44 kg of CH4, and 1.26 kg of N2O during its 30-year life span. In comparison with an apartment building, a traditional building significantly reduces about 98% of CO, 87% of CO2, 78% of CH4, 62% of NOX, 45% of N2O, and 36% of SO2, except NMVOC emissions, in terms of life cycle air emission productivity. In addition, an environmental impact analysis of the building materials used finds that the roof tile has the largest impact on global warming potential, while the cement has the largest impact on ozone depletion potential.