A comparative approach to assess the embodied and operational energy of waste-based masonry materials

  • Dulanjali Thoradeniya

    Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Moratuwa 10400, Sri Lanka
  • Chintha Jayasinghe orcid

    Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Moratuwa 10400, Sri Lanka
  • Indunil Erandi Ariyaratne orcid

    Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Moratuwa 10400, Sri Lanka
Article ID: 4126
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59400/be4126
Keywords: embodied energy, masonry, operational energy, thermal simulations, waste materials

Abstract

The construction industry has been recognised as a major contributor to several environmental challenges, mainly due to rapid urbanisation and economic growth that have driven a substantial increase in housing demand. This demand has heavily relied on energy-intensive masonry materials, including cement-sand blocks and fired clay bricks, typically manufactured using depleting natural resources. Consequently, industrial growth often accompanies economic development, resulting in vast quantities of waste, much of which is disposed of in landfills, further exacerbating environmental concerns. In this context, waste-based alternative masonry, including autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks and expanded polystyrene (EPS) blocks, repurposes industrial waste into building materials, yet lacks empirical energy performance data in tropical climates. This study evaluated and compared them against cement-sand blocks using process-based analysis with work studies conducted at operating manufacturing facilities to evaluate embodied energy. It also employed thermal simulations for a representative middle-income residential unit in Sri Lanka, utilising empirically measured thermal properties of the materials, to compare the operational energy. AAC and EPS walls showed 32–34% higher embodied energy per 1 m2 of wall, but yielded 16% and 22% lower annual operational energy, respectively, with annual cooling electricity savings of 37% and 52%. Although the waste-based masonry materials exhibited a higher embodied energy than the conventional reference, the operational energy reductions observed demonstrated clear potential for net savings of energy throughout the lifespan of the buildings. Therefore, waste-based masonry units emerged as viable solutions to reduce total energy consumption in tropical climates and promote circular economy principles.

Published
2026-06-15
How to Cite
Thoradeniya, D., Jayasinghe, C., & Ariyaratne, I. E. (2026). A comparative approach to assess the embodied and operational energy of waste-based masonry materials. Building Engineering, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.59400/be4126
Issue
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026)
Section
Article

Copyright (c) 2026 Dulanjali Thoradeniya, Chintha Jayasinghe, Indunil Erandi Ariyaratne

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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