Work

Potential recyclable materials in buildings: A framework for greenhouse gas emissions assessment of residential buildings in Singapore

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: As countries aim to reduce resource consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) has become a vital method for quantifying embodied and operational GHG emissions. However, few studies have conducted WLCA on an urban scale, often addressing operational or embodied GHG emissions in isolation without considering their cumulative impact. This study introduces a city-wide WLCA framework to assess the potential recyclable materials of urban building stock, using Singapore as a case study with 5915 public residential buildings. Upfront GHG emissions are calculated from material intensity and building information, while operational emissions are based on energy use and building age. Mean reference values for embodied and operational GHG emissions are set at 5901.6 tCO 2 e and 22.6 kg CO 2 e/m 2 .yr, respectively. By comparing individual values and reference values, we analyse the potential recyclable materials that highlight the environmental impact of the building stock and the availability of resources.

Source: Resources Conservation and Recycling

DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108954