Comparative analysis of energy related performance and construction cost of the external walls in high-rise residential buildings

In the design phase of a high-rise residential building, stakeholders should adopt the proper external wall system by considering energy performance and IEQ as well as construction cost and structural stability. The energy related performance and construction cost of external walls affect the life cycle cost. Therefore, also a value analysis of the LCC in terms of the energy performance is required. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the energy related performance and construction cost of external walls in high-rise residential buildings, which are the currently staple external walls, using reinforced concrete (RC), glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) and cellulose fiber reinforced cement (CFRC). All the wall systems have the same doors and windows in their bodies for equal comparison of energy efficiency and construction cost. The energy efficiency of the CFRC external walls was high while the construction cost for RC external walls was low. The value assessment considering the LCC and the residents' health revealed that RC external walls were most satisfactory up to 6 years after construction, GFRC from 6 years to 26 years, and CFRC thereafter, respectively. The findings of this research will be valuable for stakeholders deciding on an external wall system. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.