Bio-Based Materials for the Italian Construction …
245
4 Conclusion
Achieving the decarbonization targets by 2050 as set by the European Union requires
the adoption of several measures. The only reduction of primary energy requirements
for both new and existing building is not effective, as the contribution of the production of insulation materials to carbon emissions increases.
A viable strategy could be the introduction of carbon capture and storage systems
so to benefit from the long-term carbon storage in the building stock.
The combination of prefabrication with sustainable bio-based building materials,
if extended on a large scale, could offer several benefits at different levels.
While the sustainability of wood as a building material is a complex issue, as
its environmental impact is strongly related to forest management and end-of-life
scenarios, fast-growing bio-based materials are a valuable alternative to insulate
the buildings, as the biogenic carbon can be stored in the built environment for a
relatively long time. However, this benefit is irrelevant when compared to the total
emissions deriving from the use of existing buildings. Therefore, in order to accelerate
the transition and meet the carbon budget limits required by 2050, it is necessary
to increase the renovation rate of buildings in Europe. In fact, only with a drastic
acceleration of the energy renovation of buildings, it would be possible to generate
a significant benefit due to the carbon storage in the building stock.
References
Ballarini, I., Corgnati, S. P., & Corrado, V. (2014). Use of reference buildings to assess the energy
saving potentials of the residential building stock: The experience of TABULA project. Energy
Policy, 68, 273–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2014.01.027.
Blengini, Gian Andrea, & Di Carlo, Tiziana. (2010). The changing role of life cycle phases, subsystems and materials in the LCA of low energy buildings. Energy and Buildings, 42(6), 869–880.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2009.12.009.
Confindustria. (2018). IL SETTORE DELL’INDUSTRIA DEL LEGNO NEI TERRITORI DI
LECCO E SONDRIO.
European Commission. (2010). Directive 2010/31/EU. Official Journal of the European Union,
13–35.
Eurostat. 2017. Main Annual Crop Statistic.
Garas, G, Allam, M., & Dessuky, R. E. (2009). Straw bale construction as an economic environmental building alternative—a case study. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences,
4(9), 54–59. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78650023657&partnerID=
40&md5=05a84deba2193e23490e891f68179986.
Gardino, P. (2015). Il Mercato Italiano Delle Case in Legno Nel 2010.
Guest, G., Bright, R. M., Cherubini, F., & Strømman, A. H. (2013). Consistent quantification of climate impacts due to biogenic carbon storage across a range of bio-product systems. Environmental
Impact Assessment Review, 43(November), 21–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2013.05.002.
Gustavsson, Leif, & Sathre, Roger. (2006). Variability in energy and carbon dioxide balances of
wood and concrete building materials. Building and Environment, 41, 940–951. https://doi.org/
10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.04.008.
245
4 Conclusion
Achieving the decarbonization targets by 2050 as set by the European Union requires
the adoption of several measures. The only reduction of primary energy requirements
for both new and existing building is not effective, as the contribution of the production of insulation materials to carbon emissions increases.
A viable strategy could be the introduction of carbon capture and storage systems
so to benefit from the long-term carbon storage in the building stock.
The combination of prefabrication with sustainable bio-based building materials,
if extended on a large scale, could offer several benefits at different levels.
While the sustainability of wood as a building material is a complex issue, as
its environmental impact is strongly related to forest management and end-of-life
scenarios, fast-growing bio-based materials are a valuable alternative to insulate
the buildings, as the biogenic carbon can be stored in the built environment for a
relatively long time. However, this benefit is irrelevant when compared to the total
emissions deriving from the use of existing buildings. Therefore, in order to accelerate
the transition and meet the carbon budget limits required by 2050, it is necessary
to increase the renovation rate of buildings in Europe. In fact, only with a drastic
acceleration of the energy renovation of buildings, it would be possible to generate
a significant benefit due to the carbon storage in the building stock.
References
Ballarini, I., Corgnati, S. P., & Corrado, V. (2014). Use of reference buildings to assess the energy
saving potentials of the residential building stock: The experience of TABULA project. Energy
Policy, 68, 273–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2014.01.027.
Blengini, Gian Andrea, & Di Carlo, Tiziana. (2010). The changing role of life cycle phases, subsystems and materials in the LCA of low energy buildings. Energy and Buildings, 42(6), 869–880.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2009.12.009.
Confindustria. (2018). IL SETTORE DELL’INDUSTRIA DEL LEGNO NEI TERRITORI DI
LECCO E SONDRIO.
European Commission. (2010). Directive 2010/31/EU. Official Journal of the European Union,
13–35.
Eurostat. 2017. Main Annual Crop Statistic.
Garas, G, Allam, M., & Dessuky, R. E. (2009). Straw bale construction as an economic environmental building alternative—a case study. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences,
4(9), 54–59. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78650023657&partnerID=
40&md5=05a84deba2193e23490e891f68179986.
Gardino, P. (2015). Il Mercato Italiano Delle Case in Legno Nel 2010.
Guest, G., Bright, R. M., Cherubini, F., & Strømman, A. H. (2013). Consistent quantification of climate impacts due to biogenic carbon storage across a range of bio-product systems. Environmental
Impact Assessment Review, 43(November), 21–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2013.05.002.
Gustavsson, Leif, & Sathre, Roger. (2006). Variability in energy and carbon dioxide balances of
wood and concrete building materials. Building and Environment, 41, 940–951. https://doi.org/
10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.04.008.