WHAT

PhD project within Circular Built Environment

WHO

Sarah C. Andersen,
Industrial PhD

WITH

Danish Technological Institute,
University of Southern Denmark, SDU,
Aalborg University, BUILD

RESUMÉ

Novel framework for decision support regarding sustainability of circular economy within the built environment (EMBRACER)

The project looks into the use of life cycle analysis (LCA) in the construction industry, particularly whether LCA is currently being used most appropriately in connection with circular economic models. The aim is to expand the discussion on how LCA should not be used as one definitive answer, but rather as a useful technique to quantify potential impacts on the environment, caused by different circular strategies and their expected consequences, instead of using a limited system boundary, only considering solutions on a one-by-one case, as if the world is black or white.

It works with two basic LCA methods; attributional and consequential LCA, respectively ALCA and CLCA. Where ALCA attempts to describe and calculate a certain proportion of the global environmental impact of a given product/service, CLCA estimates the environmental impacts that are affected and caused by a given product/service. The construction industry has been introduced to LCA through standardized methods based on attributional LCA, and it is the most widespread, but there is a certain danger that it is also used to answer questions about CE models, for which it is not suitable, as these models are far more complex than, for example, individual buildings and building parts.

SELECTED ARTICLES & PAPERS

Teknologisk Institut investerer i den cirkulære dagsorden. Byggeplads.dk. August, 2020.
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Bæredygtighed er mere end ”bare” CO2. Byggeri + arkitektur. October, 2021.
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Drømmeprojektet – men hvordan endte jeg med at ville skubbe til bæredygtighed i byggebranchen? LinkedIn. August, 2021.
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Drømmeprojektet – men hvor skal jeg starte? LinkedIn. September, 2021.
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Emmanouil, N., Andersen*,, S. C., Andersen, C., Engelund Thybring, E., Birkved, M., (2021). Wood as a sustainable building material – The environmental implications of circular economy of wood. SDU Life Cycle EngineeringInstitut for Grøn Teknologi, Københavns Universitet, Aalborg Universitet, Syddansk Universitet, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet.
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Andersen, S. C., Birgisdottir, H., Birkved, M. (2022). Life Cycle Assessments of Circular Economy in the Built Environment – A Scoping Review. Buildings & Environment, Danish Technological Institute, SDU Life Cycle Engineering, Department of Green Technology (IGT), University of Southern Denmark, Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University.
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Fire års erfaring er mere end de fleste. LinkedIn, June, 2022.
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Flere LCA metoder – a’hva’for-noget? LinkedIn. August, 2022.
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Erhvervs-ph.d.: Vi bruger LCA forkert, hvis vi vil den cirkulære økonomi – men løsningen er lige for. Byrumsmonitor. September, 2022.
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Kompleksiteten i bæredygtighed og den cirkulære dagsorden udfordrer byggebranchen. Bygge- og anlægsavisen. September, 2022.
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A recent discussion has made me reflect – is my research relevant? LinkedIn. November, 2022.
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Feedback-mekanismer, rebound-effekter og burden shifting – centrale risici i den cirkulære omstilling – Del 1/3. LinkedIn. November, 2022.
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Feedback-mekanismer, rebound-effekter og burden shifting – centrale risici i den cirkulære omstilling – Del 2/3. LinkedIn. November, 2022.
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Feedback-mekanismer, rebound-effekter og burden shifting – centrale risici i den cirkulære omstilling – Del 3/3. LinkedIn. December, 2022.
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Ensidigt klimafokus kan skabe nye udfordringer på andre områder. SustainReport.dk. January, 2023.
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