A Lean and Green approach for the eco-efficiency assessment on construction sites: description and case study

• Published in: Clean technologies and environmental policy Vol. 24; no. 5; pp. 1535 - 1552
• Main Authors: de Oliveira Rezende, Marilia, Saade, Marcella Ruschi Mendes, Nunes, Andréa Oliveira, da Silva, Vanessa Gomes, Moris, Virgínia Aparecida Silva, Silva, Diogo Aparecido Lopes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.07.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Case studies; Climate change; Concrete construction; Concrete structures; Construction; Construction materials; Construction sites; Decision making; Earth and Environmental Science; Efficiency; Environment; Environmental Economics; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental policy; Global warming; Hazardous wastes; Industrial and Production Engineering; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Life cycle assessment; Life cycles; Original Paper; Production; Reinforced concrete; Reinforcing steels; Steel; Steel frames; Sustainability; Sustainable Development; Sustainable production; Value added; Value stream mapping; Life cycle management; Lean and Green; Sustainable construction; Eco-efficiency
• ISSN: 1618-954X; 1618-9558
• DOI: 10.1007/s10098-021-02265-y

Lean and Green seeks to increase added value and reduce waste generation, while also improving environmental sustainability performance in production activities. However, no studies were found exploring the potential results by combining Lean and Green with eco-efficiency assessments in the construction sector. Therefore, this paper aimed at proposing and testing a Lean and Green approach in three steps. Step 1 was based on the Value Stream Mapping application to calculate the Value Added of construction activities; step 2 focused on the Life Cycle Assessment of evaluated construction activities, and step 3 performed an eco-efficiency assessment of construction sites to guide decision-makers on selecting more lean and sustainable construction materials and strategies. A case study was developed for a 300 m 2 -house construction considering two build options (reinforced concrete frame vs. light steel frame). The results affirm that light steel framing showed a value added 43% higher than the reinforced concrete in step 1, whilst having 8% less global warming potential impacts in step 2. Step 3 concluded that light steel framing was 1.38 times more eco-efficient than the concrete structure. The proposed approach can be suitable for any building system evaluation in terms of construction technologies, materials, and/or production strategies and investigations towards more sustainable production. Graphic abstract