Economic Input-output Life-cycle Assessment of U.S. Residential Buildings

Abstract

We estimate the building resource requirements, electricity and energy used, greenhouse gas releases, hazardous waste generated, and toxic air releases for the construction, usage, and demolition of typical U.S. residences in 1997. Within the three phases, usage (54% of economic activity) is the largest consumer of electricity (95%) and energy (93%) and the largest emitter of greenhouse gases (92%), while the construction phase (46% of economic activity) is the largest air toxics emitter (57%) and contributes 51% of hazardous waste. The disposal phase contribution is negligible in all of these categories. From the standpoint of the entire U.S. economy, residential buildings account for 5.3% of the Gross Domestic Product, 38% of electricity consumption, 26% of energy consumption, 24% of greenhouse gas emissions, 26% of hazardous waste, and 12% of toxic air emissions. We comment on possible remedial actions—including some current public policies—to address environmental impacts.