Classification and assessment of construction materials for a preliminary evaluation of environmental impacts in Lima, Peru

Abstract

The environmental impacts due to the construction materials are measured through life cycle assessment programs at an additional cost for construction companies, which means that these impacts are often disregarded. A classification that does not have any additional costs to the company allows for the identification of preliminary environmental impacts by building, by group of buildings, or by construction company. Therefore, this study aims to develop a classification method for construction materials which may evidence their environmental impacts. This classification method was then applied and verified through 11 case studies involving buildings in Lima, Peru, and information on environmental impact patterns by type of building or family of materials was collected. As construction in Lima has become quite standardized, the statistics obtained provide a first approach to environmental impacts from construction materials at the local level.