Life cycle assessment (LCA) of double-skin facade (DSF) system with fiber-reinforced concrete for sustainable and energy-efficient buildings in the tropics

Building envelope governs heat transfer between the external environment and building interiors and thus greatly influences the energy demand for heating and cooling. In this study, an innovative double-skin facade (DSF) system achievable with a new concrete composite called high performance green hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete (HP-G-HyFRC) is proposed. Mechanical performance and partial life cycle assessment (LCA) focusing on embodied and operational energy was evaluated for the new system against an existing solid facade (SW) system as generally adopted in public housing in Singapore. Flexural test results showed that in addition to a 25% reduction in concrete usage and weight, the DSF system also exhibited a higher structural capacity and ductility as compared to the SW counterpart. LCA analysis of a functional unit revealed that the DSF system could potentially reduce the annual operational energy and CO2eq emission by 9.2%, despite a higher embodied energy and materials cost. Yet, the additional embodied energy and cost could be recovered within the first 2 and 8.2 years of operation, respectively. The findings demonstrate a promising potential for the application of the DSF system to reduce operational energy of buildings in the tropics.