Impact Assessment of Buildings: Examining the Interplay between Economic, Environmental, and Social Sustainability.

Abstract

This study delves into the criticality of impact assessment in building within the economic, environmental, and social spheres, acknowledging the goals of the United Nations' 2030 agenda for sustainable cities. To deepen insights into this domain, a bibliometric analysis was undertaken, showcasing a growing interest over the years, with publications increasing since 2015, highlighting the pivotal role of academic research in knowledge dissemination. The paper underscores the importance of integrating economic, environmental, and social dimensions in building impact assessment. Notably, life cycle analysis, sustainable material use, and environmental impact assessments emerge as thematic clusters. Geographically, China stands out as the leading contributor to the topic, followed by the USA, Italy, and the UK, suggesting profound cross-country collaborations. The analysis indicates an inverse relationship between renovation costs and sustainability, emphasizing the need to strike a balance between demands and costs during construction and renovation phases. Within this context, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) stands out as the favored measurement model, accounting for a gamut of inputs and outputs, including environmental, social, and economic impacts. European policies champion building sustainability, advocating for circular economy approaches and CO2 emission reductions. The existence of independent committees or agencies is perceived as a catalyst for sustainability in building processes. However, the study acknowledges certain limitations, including exclusive reliance on the Scopus database and potential subjectivity in thematic analysis. Addressing these, future research could benefit from additional databases like Web of Science, advanced thematic analysis software, and comprehensive case studies. Further engaging consumers in the building sustainability perspective may also present a promising research avenue.

Keywords

• Impact Assessment
• Sustainability
• Construction
• Life Cycle
• Circular Economy