Comparative Analysis of Energy Footprints of Traditional and Green Building Materials: Towards the Net Zero Construction Goal

Abstract

Globally, the construction sector is one of the most critical industries regarding environmental sustainability due to its high energy consumption and resulting carbon emissions. This study aims to reveal the energy footprint differences between traditional and green building materials, in line with the goal of "net-zero construction," by examining building materials' embodied energy and operational energy components throughout their life cycle, from production to end-of-use.

The research collected data on production, procurement, and application processes through a Likert-type survey administered to 180 construction material manufacturers and suppliers operating in Turkey. The data were evaluated using factor analysis and multivariate regression models, and a life cycle assessment (LCA) was also conducted for three material categories: conventional binders, sustainable alternatives, and hybrid systems.

The results show that green materials consume an average of 28% less total energy during production than conventional systems. Bio-based binders, in particular, reduce maintenance requirements, resulting in long-term energy savings. However, high production costs and limited supply infrastructure slow down the transition to sustainable materials. The research demonstrates that the widespread adoption of green materials depends on technological innovation, policy incentives, standardization, and cross-sector collaboration.