Currently, the public has a strong sense of the need for environment protection and the use of sustainable, or “green,” design in buildings and other civil structures. Since green design elements and technologies are different from traditional design, they probably have impacts on the building environment, such as vibration, lighting, noise, temperature, relative humidity, and overall comfort. Determining these impacts of green design on building environments is the primary objective of this study. The Zero Energy Research (ZOE) laboratory, located at the University of North Texas Discovery Park, is analyzed as a case study. Because the ZOE lab is a building that combines various green design elements and energy efficient technologies, such as solar panels, a geothermal heating system, and wind turbines, it provides an ideal case to study. Through field measurements and a questionnaire survey of regular occupants of the ZOE lab, this thesis analyzed and reported: 1) whether green design elements changed the building’s ability to meet common building environmental standards, 2) whether green design elements assisted in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) scoring, and 3) whether green design elements decreased the subjective comfort level of the occupants.

Este trabalho tem por finalidade a proposta de um manual com recomendações para o projeto e construção de estruturas com peças roliças de madeira tratada, oriunda de madeiras de reflorestamento no Brasil. Para isso foram realizados estudos teóricos e experimentais de elementos estruturais e de ligações em madeiras utilizando peças roliças. Foram classificadas e caracterizadas peças roliças estruturais de madeira, visualmente e mecanicamente, e apresentadas diretrizes de projetos de pontes e de galpões com sistemas estruturais e construtivos em peças roliças de madeira de reflorestamento. Os resultados serão compilados em um manual de projeto e construção de estruturas de madeira utilizando peças roliças. O estudo teve, além disso, o objetivo de divulgar, por meio de catalogações em 124 fichas técnicas, alternativas na área de estruturas e na construção civil, utilizando madeiras com peças roliças, tais como estacas de fundações, passarelas, pontes, quiosques, galpões rurais, edificações residenciais, estabelecimentos comerciais, hotelarias, igrejas, instituições de ensino, sedes de parques ecológicos e ambientais, estruturas de locais de eventos, coberturas especiais, estruturas de arquibancadas, parques turísticos e com brinquedos infantis, terminal de aeroporto, torres de observação, estruturas provisórias de cimbramentos para formas de estruturas de concreto, defensas de rodovias, barreiras acústicas, entre outros, construídos no Brasil e no exterior. Estes sistemas estruturais proporcionam a economia e favorecem o meio ambiente de forma sustentável, e principalmente promovendo o ciclo de geração das novas florestas, imprescindíveis para o sequestro de carbono. / The object of this work is to propose the draft for a handbook with recommendations for the design and construction of structures using treated roundwood originating from forest farming in Brazil. Roundwood structures were classified and characterized visually and mechanically. Guidelines were presented for the desing of bridges and barns with structural and building systems using roundwood timber harvested from reforestation projects. Results will be compiled into a manual of design and construction of timber structures using roundwood. The study also had the purpose to publicize through the cataloging in 124 fact sheets of the alternatives for wooden structures in civil construction work with roundwood, such as pole for foundation piling, walkways, bridges, kiosks, farm barns, residential housing, business stores, hotels, churches, schools, ecological and environmental parks, structures for public shows and events, special coverage structures, bleachers, tourist parks and playgrounds, airport terminal, observation towers, forming wood for concrete structures, highway barriers, noise barriers, among others, to be built in Brazil and abroad. These systems provide financial savings and are good for the environment in a sustainable manner, especially by promoting the cycle of generation of new forests that crucial for carbon sequestration.

No description available.

Este trabalho tem por finalidade a proposta de um manual com recomendações para o projeto e construção de estruturas com peças roliças de madeira tratada, oriunda de madeiras de reflorestamento no Brasil. Para isso foram realizados estudos teóricos e experimentais de elementos estruturais e de ligações em madeiras utilizando peças roliças. Foram classificadas e caracterizadas peças roliças estruturais de madeira, visualmente e mecanicamente, e apresentadas diretrizes de projetos de pontes e de galpões com sistemas estruturais e construtivos em peças roliças de madeira de reflorestamento. Os resultados serão compilados em um manual de projeto e construção de estruturas de madeira utilizando peças roliças. O estudo teve, além disso, o objetivo de divulgar, por meio de catalogações em 124 fichas técnicas, alternativas na área de estruturas e na construção civil, utilizando madeiras com peças roliças, tais como estacas de fundações, passarelas, pontes, quiosques, galpões rurais, edificações residenciais, estabelecimentos comerciais, hotelarias, igrejas, instituições de ensino, sedes de parques ecológicos e ambientais, estruturas de locais de eventos, coberturas especiais, estruturas de arquibancadas, parques turísticos e com brinquedos infantis, terminal de aeroporto, torres de observação, estruturas provisórias de cimbramentos para formas de estruturas de concreto, defensas de rodovias, barreiras acústicas, entre outros, construídos no Brasil e no exterior. Estes sistemas estruturais proporcionam a economia e favorecem o meio ambiente de forma sustentável, e principalmente promovendo o ciclo de geração das novas florestas, imprescindíveis para o sequestro de carbono. / The object of this work is to propose the draft for a handbook with recommendations for the design and construction of structures using treated roundwood originating from forest farming in Brazil. Roundwood structures were classified and characterized visually and mechanically. Guidelines were presented for the desing of bridges and barns with structural and building systems using roundwood timber harvested from reforestation projects. Results will be compiled into a manual of design and construction of timber structures using roundwood. The study also had the purpose to publicize through the cataloging in 124 fact sheets of the alternatives for wooden structures in civil construction work with roundwood, such as pole for foundation piling, walkways, bridges, kiosks, farm barns, residential housing, business stores, hotels, churches, schools, ecological and environmental parks, structures for public shows and events, special coverage structures, bleachers, tourist parks and playgrounds, airport terminal, observation towers, forming wood for concrete structures, highway barriers, noise barriers, among others, to be built in Brazil and abroad. These systems provide financial savings and are good for the environment in a sustainable manner, especially by promoting the cycle of generation of new forests that crucial for carbon sequestration.

Building production in public institutions, especially higher education buildings, has received large government investment in recent years. These investments contributed to increasing concern over the environmental issues and the quality in projects development in these institutions. The REUNI program, for example, contributed to the growth and expansion of Federal Universities, between 2007 and 2012. In this context, it is detected that, most of the delays in project development in public institutions, are caused by the characteristics of contracting and the project management in these kind of institutions. Also, public institutions contracts often hire professionals from different companies that usually do not work as an integrated team, plus they have communication difficulties and problems to understand the scope, that ended up causing incompatibility between projects and rework. Also, public institutions contracts often hire professionals from different companies that usually do not work as an integrated team, plus they have communication difficulties and problems to understand the scope, that ended up causing incompatibility between projects and rework. Besides, there is a growing demand for sustainable buildings and the projects still do not incorporate sustainability concepts. Therefore, the objective of this research is to develop a Referencial Term for project contracting in public institutions, modeling the process according to the principles of Concurrent Design and incorporating sustainability concepts into this Term, through a case study of a public institution, in order to contribute to improving its design process management. To achieve the objective it was made a documentary and bibliographical research and a case study in a public higher education institution. The methodology was divided into six steps: literature review; description case study and first diagnosis; comparative of referencial terms and second diagnosis; selection and organization of sustainability concepts; development of the referencial term; validation, result analysis and future proposes. As tools to develop these steps, it was used design process and models of referencial terms, as well as, it was researched strategies, criteria and recommendations for environmental sustainability, surveyed in bibliographical sources. Also, it was used comparative tables produced by spreadsheets, flowcharts and checklists. As a result of this study, the design practice of the institution was registered, environmental sustainability concepts were inserted into design process, also, it was possible to develop, apply, analyze the Referencial Term proposed and validate it by an officer of UFS. This work contributed to improve the quality of the design process in the public institution researched and the Referencial Term proposed can be used in other public institutions. / A produção de edificações em instituições públicas, principalmente as de ensino superior, vem recebendo grandes investimentos do governo nos últimos anos. Tais investimentos colaboraram para o aumento da preocupação com as questões ambientais e com qualidade no desenvolvimento dos projetos nessas instituições. Como exemplo, cita-se o programa REUNI que, entre 2007 e 2012, contribuiu para o crescimento e a expansão das Universidades Federais. Neste contexto, observa-se que os atrasos no desenvolvimento dos projetos em órgãos públicos se devem às particularidades de contratação e ao gerenciamento dos projetos. Ademais, nas contratações públicas, os projetos são desenvolvidos por profissionais de empresas distintas, que não trabalham de forma integrada e têm dificuldade de comunicação e de entendimento do escopo dos serviços, gerando incompatibilidade entre os projetos e retrabalhos. Aliado a isso, busca-se o desenvolvimento de edificações sustentáveis, no entanto, os projetos ainda não incorporam conceitos de sustentabilidade socioambiental. Nesse sentido, o objetivo desta pesquisa é elaborar um Termo de Referência para contratação de projetos, modelando o processo de acordo com os princípios do Projeto Simultâneo e incorporando ao Termo de Referência conceitos de sustentabilidade, através do estudo de caso de uma instituição pública contratante, de forma a contribuir para melhoria do gerenciamento do processo de projeto da instituição. Para tanto, realizou-se pesquisa bibliográfica e documental e o estudo de caso na Universidade Federal de Sergipe. A metodologia foi dividida em seis etapas: revisão de literatura; descrição do objeto de estudo e 1º diagnóstico; comparativo de termos de referência e 2º diagnóstico; seleção e organização dos conceitos de sustentabilidade socioambiental; montagem do Termo de Referência; validação, análise dos resultados e propostas futuras. No desenvolvimento dessas etapas, utilizou-se como ferramentas os modelos de processo de projeto e termos de referência pesquisados, bem como as diretrizes, os critérios e as recomendações de sustentabilidade socioambiental pesquisados em fontes bibliográficas, quadros comparativos elaborados com o auxílio de planilhas eletrônicas, fluxogramas e listas de verificação. Como resultado deste estudo, registrou-se a prática de projeto da instituição pesquisada, inseriu-se conceitos de sustentabilidade socioambiental ao processo de projeto, bem como foi possível montar, implementar, analisar o Termo de Referência proposto e validá-lo junto a um funcionário da UFS. Com isso, contribui-se para a melhoria da qualidade do processo de projeto no ambiente da instituição pública pesquisada e o Termo de Referência proposto poderá ser utilizado em outras instituições públicas.

This research investigates the bio-products/phase change material (PCM) composites for the building envelope application. Bio-products, such as wood and herb, are porous medium, which can be applied in the building envelope for thermal insulation purpose. PCM is infiltrated into the bio-product (porous medium) to form a composite material. The PCM can absorb/release large amount of latent heat of fusion from/to the building environment during the melting/solidification process. Hence, the PCM-based composite material in the building envelope can efficiently adjust the building interior temperature by utilizing the phase change process, which improves the thermal insulation, and therefore, reduces the load on the HVAC system. Paraffin wax was considered as the PCM in the current studies. The building energy savings were investigated by comparing the composite building envelope material with the conventional material in a unique Zero-Energy (ZØE) Research Lab building at University of North Texas (UNT) through building energy simulation programs (i.e., eQUEST and EnergyPlus). The exact climatic conditions of the local area (Denton, Texas) were used as the input values in the simulations. It was found that the EnergyPlus building simulation program was more suitable for the PCM based building envelope using the latent heat property. Therefore, based on the EnergyPlus simulations, when the conventional structure insulated panel (SIP) in the roof and wall structures were replaced by the herb panel or herb/PCM composite, it was found that around 16.0% of energy savings in heating load and 11.0% in cooling load were obtained by using PCM in the bio-product porous medium.

Due to rising energy costs and concerns about global climate change, high performance buildings are more in demand than ever before. With roughly 20% of the total energy consumption in the United States being devoted to residential use, this sector represents a significant opportunity for future savings. There are many guidelines and standards for reducing building energy consumption. One of the most stringent is the Passive House Standard. The standard requires that that air infiltration is less than or equal to 0.6 air changes per hour at a 50 Pascal pressure difference (ACH 50), annual heating energy is less than or equal to 15kWh/m2, and total annual source energy is less than or equal to 120 kWh/m2. For comparison, the typical West coast US residence has an ACH50 of 5 and annually uses more than 174 kWh/m2 of source energy according to the 2009 Residential Energy Consumption Survey. With these challenging requirements, successful implementation of the Passive House Standard requires effective strategies to substantially reduce energy consumption for all end uses. Heating and cooling loads are low by necessity in a Passive House. As such this makes end uses like water heating a much larger fraction of total energy use than they would be in a typical building. When air to water heat pumps are employed the energy consumption by water heating is lowered significantly. By employing innovative heat recovery strategies the energy consumption for water heating and HVAC can be reduced even further. This study uses energy modeling and project cost analysis to evaluate three innovative control strategies. Results for a Passive House in Portland Oregon show a savings of about $70 annually with a payback period of 10 years. The same Passive House in Fairbanks Alaska with a different strategy would save $150 annually with a payback period of 5 years.

This study presents findings from survey and interview data investigating replication of green building measures by Commercial Building Partnership (CBP) partners that worked directly with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL partnered directly with 12 organizations on new and retrofit construction projects, which represented approximately 28 percent of the entire U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) CBP program. Through a feedback survey mechanism, along with personal interviews, quantitative and qualitative data were gathered relating to replication efforts by each organization. These data were analyzed to provide insight into two primary research areas: 1) CBP partners' replication efforts of green building approaches used in the CBP project to the rest of the organization's building portfolio, and, 2) the market potential for technology diffusion into the total U.S. commercial building stock, as a direct result of the CBP program. The first area of this research focused specifically on replication efforts underway or planned by each CBP program participant. The second area of this research develops a diffusion of innovations model to analyze potential broad market impacts of the CBP program on the commercial building industry in the United States. Findings from this study provided insight into motivations and objectives CBP partners had for program participation. Factors that impact replication include motivation, organizational structure and objectives firms have for implementation of energy efficient technologies. Comparing these factors between different CBP partners revealed patterns in motivation for constructing energy efficient buildings, along with better insight into market trends for green building practices. The optimized approach to the CBP program allows partners to develop green building parameters that fit the specific uses of their building, resulting in greater motivation for replication. In addition, the diffusion model developed for this analysis indicates that this method of market prediction may be used to adequately capture cumulative construction metrics for a whole-building analysis as opposed to individual energy efficiency measures used in green building.

Topics on the environment and sustainability attracts ever more attention today, especially in the construction sector. In Sweden, the building- and housing industry answers for a significant share of the total energy consumption, waste production and greenhouse gas emissions. The construction sector is often depicted as conservative with a low rate of productivity and innovation. Sweden’s National Board of Housing, Building and Planning suggests that errors and damages in construction causes expenses corresponding to tens of thousands new housing units each year in Sweden. In a time of climate action and pursuit of more circularity in resource use this issue becomes a burning question. There is no doubt that the industry has adopted the increasing awareness on sustainability issues. Carbon emission levels and renewable energy is being measured as any other key performance indicator. The strive for increased sustainability in construction becomes relevant for any actor who wants to remain relevant on the market. Considering recent studies emphasizing errors, damages, and inadequacies in construction a relevant question to ask would be if the reality lives up to the ambitions of a sustainable building industry. This study investigates underlying factors causing errors and damages in construction. Development on sustainability matters is plotted in relation to how it has affected the industry. Chosen literature covers sustainability development, building errors and damages as well as complexity matters unique for the construction industry. The study’s literature review is balanced by multiple interviews and a survey conducted with industry working professionals. The results suggest that the development of errors and damages in construction has been stable in recent years. However, data collection thru interviews and surveys declares that most participants has experienced an increase in errors and damages. The distribution of information and knowledge regarding errors and damages in construction has increased, which may have caused a perceived increase of errors and damages. Whether increased focus on sustainability matters has affected the occurrence of errors and damages depends on which time span is being considered. Sustainability related adaptions of work methods and materials may give rise to errors and damages in the short term. Hence, the heightened sustainability focus together with a rapid development pace calls for caution when designing buildings. The study’s data collection suggests an increasing lack of competence regarding the design of buildings and contract documents. Ambiguous and more demanding requirements together with lack of general liability and competence supply is described as the most urgent issues affecting errors, damages, and deficiencies in construction. / Frågor som berör miljö- och hållbarhet får allt mer uppmärksamhet i samhället, inte minst inom byggsektorn. I Sverige står bygg- och fastighetssektorn för en betydande andel av landets totala energianvändning, avfallsproduktion och utsläpp av växthusgaser. Byggsektorn beskrivs traditionellt som konservativ och beskylls ofta för att ha en låg produktivitetsutveckling och innovationsgrad. Boverket hävdar att fel, skador och brister i byggandet orsakar kostnader motsvarande ett produktionsbortfall på tiotusentals bostäder i Sverige varje år. I en tid av klimatomställningar och strävan mot ett mer cirkulärt användande av naturresurser blir denna fråga ytterst relevant. Att branschens aktörer tagit till sig det ökande hålbarhetsfokuset råder det inga tvivel om. Företags koldioxidutsläpp och andel förnybar energi är nyckeltal som deklareras i allt högre utsträckning. Att bygga hållbart är en självklarhet för vilken aktör som helst som vill behålla sin position på marknaden. Med bakgrund i de studier som lyfter fram fel, skador och brister inom byggandet är det relevant att fråga sig ifall verkligheten lever upp till ambitionen om det hållbara byggandet. Denna studie undersöker bakomliggande orsaker till att det uppstår fel och skador i byggandet. Branschens utveckling kopplat till hållbarhetsfrågan kartläggs i syfte att identifiera hur den påverkat byggandet. Den litteratur som studerats berör hållbarhetsutveckling, byggfel och byggskadorsamt den komplexitet som ofta är unik för byggbranschen. Genom intervjuer med tjänstemän samt en enkätstudie med yrkesarbetare ges en verklighetsanknytning och avstämning mot aktuell litteratur. Studiens resultat påvisar att utvecklingen av byggfel och byggskador varit oförändrad i närtid. Inom ramen för studiens datainsamling uppger majoriteten av de tillfrågade att de upplevt en ökning av fel och skador. Samtidigt har information och spridning av upptäckta fel och skador i byggandet ökat, vilket i sig kan ha föranlett en upplevd ökning. Huruvida det ökade hållbarhetsfokuset inom byggsektorn har påverkat förekomsten av byggfel och byggskador beror på vilken tidshorisont som beaktas. Hållbarhetsrelaterade omställningar av arbetsmetoder och material riskerar att ge upphov till fel och skador på kort sikt. Med ökat fokus på hållbarhetsfrågor och snabb utveckling ökar behovet av att kunna se den långsiktiga hållbarheten vid valet av byggtekniska lösningar. Studiens datainsamling pekar på ökande kompetensbrist i fråga om byggnaders och byggbeskrivningars utformning. Tvetydiga och mer omfattande kravställningar i kombination med bristande helhetsansvar och kompetensförsörjning beskrivs som de största riskfaktorerna i fråga om fel, skador och brister i byggandet.

Tesis por compendio / [ES] La idea general de esta tesis es estudiar el papel que el Análisis de Ciclo de Vida (ACV) puede jugar como una herramienta para la toma de decisiones durante la fase de proyecto de una obra de construcción. El ACV es una metodología que permite el cálculo de los impactos ambientales de cualquier actividad humana. Este trabajo está construido en tres niveles, el estudio de materiales de construcción individualmente, las soluciones constructivas y por último el conjunto del edificio. A medida que los capítulos progresan, el foco del estudio se aleja desde las particularidades asociadas con los materiales hasta llegar al estudio del ciclo de vida de los edificios. El capítulo uno corresponde con el primer nivel. En este capítulo, varios biocomposites que contienen resina bio-epoxi se comparan con la placa de yeso laminado en términos de sus impactos medioambientales y sus propiedades mecánicas. En el caso de las soluciones constructivas, esta tesis analiza, además de los impactos ambientales, otros parámetros relevantes, tales como el comportamiento acústico y térmico. Sin un comportamiento adecuado en esos aspectos. las soluciones constructivas sostenibles no pueden considerarse una alternativa a las convencionales. En el caso del capítulo 2, se comparan varios tipos de particiones que combinan los biocomposites estudiados en el primer capítulo con absorbentes acústicos convencionales y no convencionales en términos de sus impactos medioambientales y su aislamiento a ruido aéreo. El tercer capítulo continúa tratando las soluciones constructivas. En este caso se analiza el uso de paneles de fachada formados a partir de residuo de paja de arroz generada en el parque natural de la Albufera. Una fachada compuesta por estos paneles se compara a una fachada de doble hoja de ladrillo. El estudio lidia con la comparación de sus impactos ambientales, su aislamiento a ruido aéreo y su transmitancia térmica. Además se analiza el comportamiento higrotérmico de la fachada de paja. El último capítulo compara los impactos ambientales de una casa de madera pensada para ser una referencia de la media europea en cinco ciudades diferentes. Las ciudades estudiadas son Munich, Ljubljana, Portorož, Madrid, and Valencia. El propósito es comprender como las barreras hacia la sostenibilidad regenerativa cambian dependiendo de la ubicación. En referencia a los resultados, el primer capítulo indica que los composites propuestos pueden ser una alternativa sostenible a la placa de yeso laminado al reducir un 50% su impacto ambiental. El segundo capítulo muestra que reemplazar la placa de yeso laminado y la lana mineral de las particiones por los biocomposites y con un material basado en residuo de lana de oveja puede reducir las emisiones de carbono un 60%. El tercer capítulo señala la importancia de encontrar manera de utilizar la paja de arroz de la albufera como materia prima. Además, la fachada de paja de arroz analizada demuestra no solo ser beneficiosa para el medio ambiente (evita la emisión de 52 kg de CO2 eq. por metro cuadrado), sino también demuestra ser una alternativa adecuada en términos de su comportamiento acústico, térmico e higrotérmico. Debido a los beneficios ambientales que el uso de los paneles de paja supone para el medio ambiente, la paja de arroz puede ser considerada como un material glocal. El último capítulo muestra que las medidas de sostenibilidad convencional, como el uso de la madera en la estructura y el aumento del aislamiento, no son suficientes para llegar a construir edificios regenerativos ni de emisiones de carbono neutras (NZED). El uso de materiales de base biológica, un correcto diseño y nuevas tecnologías enfocadas a la eficiencia energética son fundamentales para alcanzar el objetivo de la sostenibilidad regenerativa. En general los resultados enfatizan la necesidad de utilizar el ACV como una herramienta para la toma de decisiones en fase de proyecto de un edificio. El ACV es la única metodología capaz de ofrecer una representación fiable de la influencia que un edificio tiene sobre el medio ambiente / [CA] La idea general d'aquesta tesi es estudiar del paper que l'Anàlisi de Cicle de Vida (ACV) podria jugar com a ferramenta per a la pressa de decisions durant la fase de projecte d'una obra de construcció. El ACV és una metodologia que permet el càlcul dels impactes ambientals de qualsevol activitat humana. Aquest treball està construït en tres nivells, el estudi de materials de construcció de manera individual, les solucions constructives i per últim l'edifici com a conjunt. A mesura que els capítols progressen, el focus s'allunya des de les particularitats dels materials fins arribar a l'estudi del cicle de vida dels edificis. El capítol 1 es correspon amb el primer nivell. En aquest capítol. diversos biocomposites formats amb resina bio-epoxi es comparen amb la placa de guix laminat en termes dels seus impactes ambientals y les propietats mecàniques. En el cas de les solucions constructives, aquesta tesi analitza, a més dels impactes ambientals, uns altres paràmetres rellevants, com el comportament acústic i tèrmic. Sense un comportament adequat en eixos aspectes, una solució constructiva composada de materials sostenibles no pot ser considerada una alternativa al mètodes de construcció convencional. En el cas del segon capítol, diversos tipus de particions que combinen els biocomposites estudiats en el primer capítol amb absorbents acústics convencionals i no convencionals en termes dels seus impactes ambiental i el seu aïllament a soroll aeri. El tercer capítol continua analitzant solucions constructives. En aquest cas s'analitza l'ús de panels de façana composats de residu de palla d'arròs generada al parc natural de l'Albufera de València. Una façana composta d'aquestos panells es compara amb una façana de doble fulla de maó. L'estudi tracta la comparació dels seus impactes ambientals, el seu aïllament acústic i la transmitància tèrmica. A més s'analitza el comportament higrotèrmic de la façana de palla.L'últim capítol compara els impactes ambientals de una casa de fusta pensada com una referència de la mitjana europea en cinc ciutats diferents. Les ciutats estudiades són Múnich, Liubliana, Portorož, Madrid, and València. L'objectiu es comprendre com les barreres cap a la sostenibilitat regenerativa canvien depenent de la ubicació del edifici. En el referent als resultats, el primer capítol indica que els compòsits proposats poden ser una alternativa sostenible a la placa de guix laminat al reduir un 50% el seu impacte ambiental. El segon capítol mostra que reemplaçar la placa de guix laminat i la llana mineral de les particions amb els biocomposites i amb un material basat en residu de llana d'ovella pot reduir les emissions de carboni un 60%. El tercer capítol senyala la importància de trobar maneres d'emprar la palla d'arròs de l'Albufera com a matèria prima. A més, la façana de palla d'arròs analitzada demostra ser no sols beneficiosa per al medi ambient (evita la emissió de 52 kg de CO2 eq. per metre quadrat), sinó també demostra ser una alternativa adequada en termes del seu comportament acústic, tèrmic i higrotèrmic. L'últim capítol mostra que mesures de sostenibilitat convencional, com emprar estructura de fusta i augmentar l'aïllament, no son suficients per arribar a construir edificis d'emissions neutres de carboni (NZEB). L'ús de materials de base biològica, un correcte disseny i noves tecnologies enfocades a l'eficiència energètica són fonamentals per arribar a la sostenibilitat regenerativa. En general, els resultats emfatitzen la necessitat d'utilitzar el ACV com a una ferramenta per a la pressa de decisions en la fase de projecte d'un edifici. El ACV és l'única metodologia capaç d'oferir una representació fiable de la influència que un edifici te sobre el medi ambient. / [EN] The overarching idea of this thesis is to analyze the role of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a project decision-making tool. LCA is a methodology to conduct a sustainability analysis of any human activity. This work is constructed in three levels, the study of building materials individually, the constructions, such as façades and partitions, and finally, the whole building. As the chapters progress, the focus of the study zooms out from the particularities associated with materials until arriving at the study of the life cycle of buildings. Chapter one corresponds with the first level. In this chapter, several composite boards with bio-epoxy resin and natural fibers are compared to plasterboard in terms of their environmental impact and mechanic characteristics. In the case of constructions, this thesis analyzes some important aspects related to their performance, such as acoustic and thermal insulation. Without at least a competent performance in those parameters, constructions composed of new sustainable materials cannot be considered alternatives to the conventional solutions. In chapter 2, several partition typologies combining the biocomposites and new and conventional acoustic absorbents are compared in terms of their environmental impacts and their airborne acoustic insulation. The third chapter, which also deals with constructions, analyzes the use of façade panels built using rice straw waste from the Albufera park in Valencia and compares it to the most common façade typology in Valencia, the double-layered brick wall. The study assesses the airborne acoustic insulation and the thermal transmittance of the straw construction experimentally. The hygrothermal performance of this material is also analyzed. The last chapter deals with the environmental impacts of buildings as a whole by comparing a European reference wood house in different locations in Europe. The environmental impacts of this house are studied over its whole life cycle in Munich, Ljubljana, Portorož, Madrid, and Valencia to understand how barriers towards regenerative sustainability change depending on location. When it comes to the results, the first chapter indicates that the bio-epoxy composites proposed can be a sustainable alternative to plasterboard by reducing the environmental impact by around 50%. The second chapter shows that replacing the plasterboard and the mineral wool in a drywall partition with the bio-composites and a sheep wool acoustic absorbent can reduce carbon emissions by almost 60%. The third chapter highlights the importance of finding ways of using the rice straw from the Albufera park as a raw material. Moreover, the rice straw façade analyzed demonstrated to be not only beneficial for the environment (avoids the emission of 52 kg of CO2e to the atmosphere per square meter), but also perfectly adequate to be a sustainable alternative to the most common façade typologies in Valencia in terms of acoustic, thermal and hygrothermal performance. Because of the environmental benefits of its use and the fact that it is a proximity material, the rice straw façade panels can be considered a glocal material. The last chapter shows that conventional sustainability measures, such as a wooden frame and high thermal insulation, are not enough to successfully build neither regenerative nor Nearly Zero Emissions Buildings (NZEB). The use of bio-based materials, designing towards passive efficiency, and new technologies are necessary to reach regenerative sustainability. Overall, the results emphasize the need to use LCA as a decision-making tool during the project stage of a building. LCA is the only tool that can provide an accurate representation of the influence a building will have on the environment over its lifespan. / The authors gratefully thank the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, for funding the project BIA2013-41537-R (BIAEFIREMAT ‘Development of new sustainable eco- materials and building systems for the building industry, based on the use of residues and renewable raw materials’). The project is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and it is included in the R+D National Programme for Research Aimed at the Challenges of Society. Authors EMS, EPN, and MDB gratefully acknowledge the European Commission for funding InnoRenew CoE (grant agreement #739574), under the H2020 Widespread-Teaming programme and Republic of Slovenia (investment funding of the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund). Author AQG was supported in part by a STSM grant from COST Action CA16114 – Rethink Sustainability Towards a Regenerative Economy (RESTORE). / Quintana Gallardo, A. (2021). On Life Cycle Assessment in the Built Environment: from Conventional Sustainability to Regeneration and Glocal Architecture [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/180176 / Compendio