Tracing the impact: Flemish non-residential buildings under the microscope
Abstract
The urgent need to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings stems from the building sector's substantial contribution to global CO2 emissions. Despite growing awareness, practitioners such as contractors and architects often lack actionable knowledge to effectively mitigate environmental impacts. A deeper understanding is required of the specific building components that drive these impacts, and of the influence material selection exerts throughout the life cycle. Although residential buildings have been the primary focus of environmental impact studies, non-residential typologies remain underexplored. This study addresses that gap by analysing nine recently built Belgian non-residential buildings or apartment blocks. The sample includes an office building, a primary school, three childcare centres, an apartment complex, two warehouses and an assisted living facility, representing a range of typologies and construction systems, including solid, massive timber, and timber construction. The environmental performance is assessed using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), encompassing the embodied impact. The analysis provides initial insights into which building elements contribute most significantly to environmental impact, and the role of material choices. Future research will focus on identifying more cost-effective construction assemblies that can further reduce the environmental impact of the building sector, thereby supporting a transition toward more sustainable and economically viable practices.