Role of Work Flow in Reducing Life Cycle Energy Consumption in Construction

Abstract

Lean construction aims to improve the construction industry by focusing on flow and value and eliminating waste. Reducing waste can also meet environmental goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and improving environmental performance. Many green building rating systems have emerged over the last three decades as instruments to incentivize the production of buildings that minimize the impact on the environment and human health. However, those approaches are oriented toward the end product only, leaving builders without guidelines on effective processes to reduce operational waste. This research reviews and evaluates opportunities to mitigate GHGs and improve environmental performance through lean construction. It measures the effects of lean principles on reducing GHGs by improving the flow. Case study research was used to measure the quantity of diesel used for heating two construction projects in a cold climate; one is a traditionally managed project and the other is managed using Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) and the Last Planner System (LPS). Results show that the floor cycle time reduced from 189 days to 115 days in the lean-VDC project, a reduction of 64%. Also, the total embodied GHGs reduced from 1,037-tons CO2e to 629-tons CO2e, a reduction of 408-tons CO2e.