A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Of A Social Interest Housing Building: Bamboo Vs. Concrete

Abstract

In this study, the structural systems of two houses were compared for their environmental impacts: a real house made of Guadua Angustifolia Kunth, and a model house made of concrete. The goal of this research is to understand the difference in impacts caused by these two types of construction in Colombia, and the potential benefits of one type of construction over the other. The main hypothesis was proven correct, as the guadua structure contributes around 49% of the global warming potential (GWP) and 47% of the abiotic fossil fuel depletion of the concrete house. Although the results also indicate that the guadua structure contributes only around 36% of the ozone depletion potential (ODP) of the concrete structure, neither the concrete nor the guadua house contribute significantly to ODP within the scope of this study.