Optimisation of embodied energy in domestic construction

Over the years many developed economies around the world have used the domestic building sector capital growth as an indicator and as a stimulant to economic growth. However, attention to environmental duty of this industry has come to light only recently. There is an apparent increase in government attention and community awareness regarding the sustainability aspect of this growing industry and a greater emphasis is now being given to its environmental duty. The present pattern of metropolitan development in major Australian cities is one of spreading low-density suburbs. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics the current trend indicates that there is a 30% increase in average dwelling size and material consumption and also a decline in the number of people per dwelling. This means the energy consumption per capital, both embodied and operational energy is on the ris e in the domestic sector. In relative terms the emphasis on the conservation of embodied energy component is far less than the operational energy component. This research dissertation discusses the importance and needs in addressing this existing gap. Housing is an essential amenity. However the impact, due to current trend of increasing embodied energy consumption per capital should be minimised. This may even require major cultural shift to traditional construction processes, practices and home owner perceptions. This thesis presents the outcomes of a study investigating ways to produce a "bill of embodied energy" for housing sector aligned to the standard practice of "bill of quantities". The intension here is to contribute to improve the awareness of the community, through a web based tool, and to provide strong base for researchers and policy makers to ascertain embodied energy of current domestic construction practices.