ASSESSMENT OF CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IN BUILDING STRUCTURES OF A LARGE-SCALE WATER TREATMENT PLANT: A CASE STUDY OF MAHASAWAT WATER TREATMENT PLANT

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Benjaporn Charoenchaipat
Suparatchai Vorarat
Prayuth Rittidatch

Abstract

This research aimed to study and to assess carbon dioxide (CO2eq) emissions from the primary structural materials in the building structures of a large-scale water treatment plant expansion project with a production capacity of 800,000 m³/day. The data was obtained from detailed quantities of the primary construction materials listed in the Bill of Quantity (BOQ). These materials included coarse sand, lean concrete, structural concrete, reinforced steel, and structural steel sections across seven building groups, totaling 15 buildings. The carbon dioxide (CO2eq) emissions of each material were calculated. The analysis results found that structural concrete contributed the highest proportion of carbon dioxide (CO2eq) emissions at 74 percent (39,595.50 tCO2eq), followed by reinforced steel at 25 percent (13,613.94 tCO2eq). The total carbon dioxide (CO2eq) emissions amounted to 53,928.14 tCO2eq. Among the building groups, the clear water tank buildings had the highest carbon dioxide (CO2eq) emissions at 29 percent of the total, while the raw water pumping station showed the highest carbon dioxide (CO2eq) emissions intensity at 1,987.84 kgCO2eq/m². The overall average emissions intensity across all buildings was of 516.14 kgCO2eq/m². The results of this study could be used as a basic data for selecting low-carbon building materials and for designing buildings in alignment with Thailand's Net Zero Emissions target.

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