A Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of Timber and Brick Residential Buildings in Norway: An Evaluation of Environmental Impacts

Abstract

Buildings use a fair share of the world's energy and raw materials, and the choice of construction material has a strong effect on their environmental performance. This research examines two 50 m² buildings for the Norwegian cold climate, one timber and one brick, to determine which of the two building typologies is the most environmentally friendly [1]. The paper applies a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach according to the ISO 14040/44 standards, and focuses on the production of materials, their transport, construction, and the operation phase of the buildings [2]. Environmental impacts are quantified with SimaPro 10.1.0.6 software, using the ReCiPe 2016 Endpoint (H) method, which assesses the impact on human health, environment and resource use [3]. These findings support wider use of timber and of optimized masonry for cold-climate housing.