Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study stems from concerns about the excessive use of natural resources and the environmental impact generated by production, construction, deconstruction, and decommissioning processes in the construction industry, which negatively affect the balance of sustainable development. Given nature's limited regenerative capacity and the increase in pollution, environmental assessment tools such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), widely used in construction, have been promoted. Simultaneously, the development of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies allows for the integration of real-time environmental impact data, facilitating its use as a planning and design tool. The objective of this research was to apply LCA to two models of single-family homes built in the hot, humid climate of Ecuador in the 21st century: one using lightweight vernacular materials and the other using heavy contemporary traditional materials. The methodology combined BIM tools with LCA criteria to evaluate impacts at each stage of the construction cycle. The results showed that homes made with vernacular materials, due to their lightness and adaptation to the environment, generate lower environmental impacts in several evaluated categories. It is concluded that this type of construction model presents greater ecological efficiency and a better climate response, which positions it as a sustainable alternative in similar contexts.
Institution: Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí
Language: Spanish
Subfield: Building and Construction
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7216010923