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Examines the factors influencing the waste minimization and use of recycled materials for the construction of residential buildings in Victoria. Identification of various types of waste that are generated from the construction of a typical standard house; Cost and energy savings derived from using recycled materials; Negative impact of residential building construction activities on the environment.

Embodied energy is the total amount of energy required to produce a product, and is significant because it occurs immediately and can be equal over the life cycle of a building to the transient requirements for operational energy. Methods for embodied energy analysis include process analysis, input-output analysis and hybrid analysis. Proposes to improve the reliability of estimating embodied energy based on input-output models by using an algorithm to extract systematically the most important energy paths for the “other construction” sector from an Australian input-output model. Demonstrates the application of these energy paths to the embodied energy analysis of an individual commercial building, highlighting improvements in reliability due to the modification of energy paths with process analysis data. Compares materials and elements for the building, and estimates likely ranges of error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy required to operate office buildings has been the focus of much research in the past three decades. There have been limited attempts to quantify the embodied energy consumed in construction. Some embodied energy studies have been relatively detailed. But the energy embodied in fixtures, fittings and furniture which is used by occupiers of buildings is rarely mentioned. The potential significance of the energy embodied in fixtures, fittings and furniture has yet to be established. Aims to establish the likely importance of the energy embodied in fixtures, fittings and furniture relative to other life cycle energy requirements of office buildings in temperate climates. Implementation actions are suggested for the optimisation of the energy embodied in fixtures, fittings and furniture used in buildings. Assists facility managers and businesses with their decision making with respect to the environmental impacts associated with energy use throughout the life cycle of their buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]