A low energy building in a life cycle - its embodied energy, energy need for operation and recycling potential

Total energy use during the life cycle of a building is a growing research field. The embodied energy makes up a considerable part of the total energy use in low energy buildings. Recycling provides the opportunity to reduce the embodied energy by using recycled materials and reusable recyclable materials/components. This paper presents values on embodied energy. energy needed for operation and the recycling potential of the most energy efficient apartment housing in Sweden (45 kWh/m(2)). In a life span of 50 years, embodied energy accounted for 45% of the total energy need. The recycling potential was between 35% and 40% of the embodied energy. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.