Investigation of different materials usage expediency for a low-rise public building from the energy efficiency standpoint

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to identify the most preferable material on the assumption of the energy resources consumption reducing for buildings construction on the sustainable development criteria. The analysis of the energy resources costs for materials manufacture and their application for the low-rise public building structural construction was made. The use of structures, made of monolithic and precast reinforced concrete, ceramic brick, gas-concrete blocks, cellular concrete and polystyrene concrete, was considered. Energy costs were calculated for the following stages of the material life cycle: manufacturing, installation and operation. When calculating the energy costs for the material manufacturing, the raw materials extraction costs and the building material production costs for selected technology and equipment were taken into account. The construction costs include the material transporting costs and construction erection. The operating costs take into account equivalent heat losses through the enclosing structure made of the specified material. The calculation procedure assumes the energy costs summing up for each stage with the subsequent calculation of unit costs per 1 cub meter of the used material. To determine the total costs, the corresponding volumes were calculated. The calculation initial data are various estimate norms and other documents. On the basis of these calculations, the analysis of the energy costs required for the various types constructions erection in a low-rise public building was made. As a result, conclusions were drawn about the expediency of using different types materials for a given building in terms of the sustainable development concept.