Life Cycle Assessment of buildings and courtyards - Case study in Helsingborg

Abstract

This thesis investigates the climate impact of a newly constructed residential complex in
Oceanhamnen, Helsingborg, through an extended life cycle assessment (LCA) covering both building
and non-building elements such as road infrastructure, inner courtyards, external installations, that
area often overlooked in conventional assessments. The aim is to develop a replicable method to
quantify the global warming potential (GWP) of the entire complex. The study also compares the
climate impact of the building and its surroundings to identify key areas for emission reduction and
proposes design improvements to support the transition toward climate neutrality.
Separate methodological frameworks were introduced for assessing the GWP of building components
and non-building site elements. For the building, a dynamic energy simulation using Rhinoceros and
Grasshopper was combined with a detailed material-based LCA using Brimstone, incorporating stages
A to C. For non-building elements a custom workflow in Excel was applied, integrating
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), transport scenarios and earthworks emissions. This dualpath approach made it possible to compare and combine the building and non-building elements
within one carbon assessment framework. A design improvement scenario was introduced focusing on
buildings structural system. Timber-based materials with carbon-storing properties replaced the most
part of the above ground reinforced concrete structure systems.
Results show that non-building elements account for approximately 4% of total emissions,
significantly lower than the building itself, which accounted for the remaining 96%. The redesign
achieved a 30% reduction in total GWP. Structural systems were identified as the most impactful
building elements and the ones that the focus should be put when aiming for carbon footprint
reduction.

Popular Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment of Buildings and Courtyards – A Case Study in Helsingborg
How much carbon does a building emit over its lifetime and how can we reduce it? This master’s thesis explores those questions through a detailed study of a new residential development in Oceanhamnen, Helsingborg. Using a method called life cycle assessment (LCA), the climate impact of not only the building itself but also elements of its surroundings, such as roads, courtyards, and technical installations, was analyzed, which are often excluded from standard assessments.
The goal of this study was threefold: to develop a comprehensive method for assessing the global warming potential (GWP) of an entire building complex, to compare the emissions of the building with those of its immediate surroundings and to test whether an alternative design using timber-based materials could reduce the total emissions.
To do this, dynamic energy simulations with material-based carbon footprint calculations were combined. The building’s energy use was modeled over a 50-year period, while the emissions from materials and construction processes were calculated using detailed architectural drawing and environmental product declarations (EPDs). For non-building elements, a customized workflow was created to estimate their emissions based on material types, transport distances, and site-specific conditions.
The results showed that the building accounted for about 96% of total emissions, while the surrounding elements contributed approximately 4%. While this suggests that the building is the dominant source of emissions, it also confirms that a more complete assessment should not ignore what happens outside the building envelope, especially in urban-scale projects.
Most notably, by redesigning the building’s structural system and replacing reinforced concrete with engineered timber, total emissions were reduced by 30%. This demonstrates the potential of low-carbon materials and carbon storage materials to significantly lower the environmental impact of construction without compromising functionality.
In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of addressing both embodied and operational carbon in buildings. It also shows that while non-building elements have a smaller impact, comprehensive assessments and low-carbon design strategies are essential tools for reaching climate-neutral targets in urban development.

• author: Muszynska, Natalia Wiktoria and Wan, Xiaoqi
• supervisor: Ricardo Bernardo; Maryam Fakhari; Jouri Kanters
• organization: Division of Energy and Building Design
• course: AEBM01 20251
• year: 2025
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Earth and Environmental Sciences; Technology and Engineering
• keywords: Life cycle assessment, Global warming potential, Energy demand, Environmental impact of building and non-building materials, Timber-based materials
• language: English
• id: 9200111
• date added to LUP: 2025-06-17 09:52:48
• date last changed: 2025-06-17 09:52:48