Eco-Efficiency of Construction Materials: Data Envelopment Analysis
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 138, Issue 6
Abstract
Sustainability assessment tools are critical in the process of achieving sustainable development. Eco-efficiency has emerged as a practical concept that combines environmental and economic performance indicators to measure the sustainability performance of different product alternatives. In this paper, an analytical tool that can be used to assess the eco-efficiency of construction materials is developed. This tool evaluates the eco-efficiency of construction materials by using data envelopment analysis, a linear programming-based mathematical approach. Life-cycle assessment (LCA) and life-cycle cost (LCC) are utilized to derive the eco-efficiency ratios, and data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to rank material alternatives. Developed mathematical models are assessed by selecting the most eco-efficient exterior wall finish for a building. Percent improvement analysis was carried out to investigate target environmental effect categories that need more reduction to reach 100% eco-efficiency. Through this study, the goal is to show that DEA-based eco-efficiency assessment model could be used to evaluate alternative construction materials and offer vital guidance for decision makers during material selection.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 138 • Issue 6 • June 2012
Pages: 733 - 741
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 15, 2010
Accepted: Sep 1, 2011
Published online: Sep 3, 2011
Published in print: Jun 1, 2012
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