Contractor Energy Information System: Energy-Savings Tool for Building Construction

Abstract

The lifecycle of a building has various phases, from raw material acquisition during preconstruction to deconstruction and disposal. Activities associated with these phases demand energy and other resources, which impose a burden on the environment. Therefore, every phase must be explored to minimize the energy requirements of each building project. There is a pressing need for sustainable projects in this highly competitive market. Demand is continually growing for contractors to innovate and incorporate measures to reduce energy consumption and the associated environmental impact of their operations. This study focuses on the energy consumed during the construction phase of buildings. It proposes a framework to assist contractors in estimating and recording such energy consumption. The tool, Contractor’s Energy Information System (CEIS), was developed to aid in this endeavor. The tool was applied on a three-story office project to demonstrate the concept’s utility. This study demonstrates that although default data can estimate overall energy consumption, project-specific data can better quantify and map energy consumption. A data-collection mechanism and a tool-implementation mechanism were also suggested.