Measuring circularity from buildings to neighbourhoods

The circular economy (CE) aims to eliminate the concept of pollution and waste generation, maintain the integrity of the product over several use cycles, and focus on closing material and energy loops. Circularity metrics are relevant for monitoring, reporting and communicating CE implementation pro...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Vanessa Gomes, Sara Valdivia, Lizzie Pulgrossi, Maristela Gomes da Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Czech Technical University in Prague 2022-12-01
Series:Acta Polytechnica CTU Proceedings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ojs.cvut.cz/ojs/index.php/APP/article/view/8296
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849246885525585920
author Vanessa Gomes
Sara Valdivia
Lizzie Pulgrossi
Maristela Gomes da Silva
author_facet Vanessa Gomes
Sara Valdivia
Lizzie Pulgrossi
Maristela Gomes da Silva
author_sort Vanessa Gomes
collection DOAJ
description The circular economy (CE) aims to eliminate the concept of pollution and waste generation, maintain the integrity of the product over several use cycles, and focus on closing material and energy loops. Circularity metrics are relevant for monitoring, reporting and communicating CE implementation progress. Applied to buildings, these metrics deliver structured assessments through standardized indicators, which establish a common language among the agents involved, help implement strategies to assess the circular potential of technical options. Studies dealing with circularity metrics for buildings are still scarce and somewhat variable within an overall common framework. Applications to neighbourhoods are even more incipient. This study applied selected metrics to two building cases with different constructive characteristics, to improve the understanding on how information on circularity is conveyed. The selected metrics highlighted the circularity challenges for the two building designs. However, such metrics disregard the environmental impacts required to induce circular flows and loop closure. It is herein proposed that such metrics are paired with environmental performance profiles produced by e.g., life cycle assessments (LCA). The concept of "nested indicators" could be applied to neighbourhood and city scales by referring to the LCA concept of functional equivalency as the "relevance"  weighting criterion.
format Article
id doaj-art-4961d53c3a0d4e61a0969fbf06893de1
institution Kabale University
issn 2336-5382
language English
publishDate 2022-12-01
publisher Czech Technical University in Prague
record_format Article
series Acta Polytechnica CTU Proceedings
spelling doaj-art-4961d53c3a0d4e61a0969fbf06893de12025-08-20T03:58:22ZengCzech Technical University in PragueActa Polytechnica CTU Proceedings2336-53822022-12-0138656–671656–67110.14311/APP.2022.38.06565536Measuring circularity from buildings to neighbourhoodsVanessa Gomes0Sara Valdivia1Lizzie Pulgrossi2Maristela Gomes da Silva3University of Campinas, School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban Design, Department of Architecture and Construction, Av. Albert Einstein 951, Cidade Universitária, Campinas - SP, 13083-852, BrazilUniversity of Campinas, School of Technology, R. Pedro Zaccaria 1300, Limeira – SP, 13484-350, BrazilUniversity of Campinas, School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban Design, Department of Architecture and Construction, Av. Albert Einstein 951, Cidade Universitária, Campinas - SP, 13083-852, BrazilFederal University of Espírito Santo, Technology Center, Department of Structures and Buildings, Av. Fernando Ferrari 514 – Goiabeiras, Vitória – ES, 29075-910, BrazilThe circular economy (CE) aims to eliminate the concept of pollution and waste generation, maintain the integrity of the product over several use cycles, and focus on closing material and energy loops. Circularity metrics are relevant for monitoring, reporting and communicating CE implementation progress. Applied to buildings, these metrics deliver structured assessments through standardized indicators, which establish a common language among the agents involved, help implement strategies to assess the circular potential of technical options. Studies dealing with circularity metrics for buildings are still scarce and somewhat variable within an overall common framework. Applications to neighbourhoods are even more incipient. This study applied selected metrics to two building cases with different constructive characteristics, to improve the understanding on how information on circularity is conveyed. The selected metrics highlighted the circularity challenges for the two building designs. However, such metrics disregard the environmental impacts required to induce circular flows and loop closure. It is herein proposed that such metrics are paired with environmental performance profiles produced by e.g., life cycle assessments (LCA). The concept of "nested indicators" could be applied to neighbourhood and city scales by referring to the LCA concept of functional equivalency as the "relevance"  weighting criterion.https://ojs.cvut.cz/ojs/index.php/APP/article/view/8296circular buildingindicatormetriccircularitycircular economy
spellingShingle Vanessa Gomes
Sara Valdivia
Lizzie Pulgrossi
Maristela Gomes da Silva
Measuring circularity from buildings to neighbourhoods
Acta Polytechnica CTU Proceedings
circular building
indicator
metric
circularity
circular economy
title Measuring circularity from buildings to neighbourhoods
title_full Measuring circularity from buildings to neighbourhoods
title_fullStr Measuring circularity from buildings to neighbourhoods
title_full_unstemmed Measuring circularity from buildings to neighbourhoods
title_short Measuring circularity from buildings to neighbourhoods
title_sort measuring circularity from buildings to neighbourhoods
topic circular building
indicator
metric
circularity
circular economy
url https://ojs.cvut.cz/ojs/index.php/APP/article/view/8296
work_keys_str_mv AT vanessagomes measuringcircularityfrombuildingstoneighbourhoods
AT saravaldivia measuringcircularityfrombuildingstoneighbourhoods
AT lizziepulgrossi measuringcircularityfrombuildingstoneighbourhoods
AT maristelagomesdasilva measuringcircularityfrombuildingstoneighbourhoods