Visualizing the research of embodied energy and environmental impact research in the building and construction field: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract

In this paper, bibliometric analysis is conducted on the research of embodied energy (EE) and environmental impact (EI) in the building and construction industry to identify fundamental influential and intellectual roots and to obtain a structured overview of the status, direction, and trends in this research domain. Between 1996 and 2019, 320 publications related to this research topic were found on Web of Science. The 320 papers cover 109 journals and 48 countries. Three primary research clusters were identified: (1) embodied energy counting, influential parameters, and mitigation strategies; (2) embodied energy significance (percentage); and (3) the balance between energy efficiency and environmental impact. Embodied energy and environmental impact (EE-EI) research is characterized by a wide variety of research themes and multidisciplinary approaches. Geographical equality in the publication output is identified as a positive point for research collaboration. The research covers broad geographic, economic, and political regions, with the United States, China, and the United Kingdom dominating the research publications. There is a difference in the focus and aim of developing and developed countries. Developing countries place more focus on the method, procedure, and accuracy of embodied energy counting, while developed countries hold a greater interest in the balance between energy efficiency and environmental impact.

Keywords

• Embodied energy
• Environmental impact
• Geographic equality