Article,
The energy embodied in building materials
IPENZ Transactions, (1997)
Abstract
Following an outline of the three main methods of energy analysis
the authors describe the application of a hybrid analysis method
used during their recent update of the embodied energy coefficients
of New Zealand building materials. Full tabulations are appended
of the updated coefficients of over 100 building materials. While
most of the coefficients were less than the values found in a 1983
study, over a quarter of them had risen by an average of 46% - some
of the reasons for these apparent increases are attributed to the
greater accuracy of the hybrid analysis method. When the effects
of these changes on the total embodied energy of a âstandardâ
house shell were investigated, it was found to have reduced significantly
- by over 50% in most cases - compared to 1983.
