CO2 emission reduction of construction equipment by using cleaner technology : case study in high-rise building construction

Abstract

The high-rise building construction has an important role on environment since the beginning to completion of the project as the construction activities utilize type of machines and equipments, particularly the heavy ones. Such machines and equipments consume a significant amount of fuel oil and electricity that emits large quantity of air pollution, especially CO2 emission leading to global warming which is a major concern worldwide. This research presents a case study of CO2 emissions reduction of construction equipments in high-rise building construction by applying Cleaner Technology. The research separated three main sources of CO2 emission which are: Structural Activities, Architectural Activities and System Activities. After that the research used surveying method for collected the data such as the quantity of equipments in each activities and time operated. The data is estimated by the fuel oil consumption and electricity by following IPCC Guideline 2006 and evaluation of carbon footprint products by Carbon Footprint Committee. The results show that the CO2 emission of overall construction site was 1,295.34 ton-CO or 57.43 kg-CO /m2. CO emission released from the Structure Activities was 625.87 ton CO2 equivalent to 48.32% CO2 of all activities, 373.14 ton-CO2 from Architectural Activities equivalent to 28.81% CO2 of all activities, and 296.33 ton CO2 from System Activities equivalent to 22.88% CO2 of all activities. Regarding the CT application, reduction of CO2 emission is studied by considering direct and indirect methods. The direct method could display the explicit results; stopping the engine of equipment every time whenever the equipment are not used, maintenance of equipment by follow the preventive program of company, changing the size of concrete truck. Indirect method gave the uncertain results depending on many factors such as changing the employee’s behaviors, planning for evident work procedures and using the proper equipments with the manner and the right skill of works. Therefore, Cleaner Technology can reduce CO2 emission from this project from 1,295.34 ton-CO2 to 1,038.64 ton-CO2 or 19.82 % reduction.