Huzita Tomohumi, Noda Ryu
Nagano University, Ueda, Nagano, Japan.
Institute of Wood Technology, Akita Prefectural University, Noshiro, Akita, Japan.
PLoS One. 2025 Jan 15;20(1):e0316153. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316153. eCollection 2025.
To mitigate global warming, replacing concrete and steel with timber as the primary construction material for construction projects, such as check dams, is being promoted in Japan and other countries. Timber check dams have more limited installation sites than concrete or steel dams because of installation conditions such as locations less susceptible to debris flows and locations where there is constant running water. However, even when the installation conditions are met, engineers and contractors are reluctant to select timber as a construction material because of its high construction cost. In this study, an input-output table was used to compare the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the construction of a timber check dam at the design stage with those associated with the construction of concrete and steel check dams to quantitatively evaluate the added value of timber utilization (in addition to its construction cost). The results revealed that replacing concrete and steel check dams with timber check dams could reduce GHG emissions by 61% and 34%, respectively. This study demonstrated the possibility of evaluating the GHG emissions associated with a construction project at the design stage. Moreover, it highlights the importance of considering the GHG emissions associated with construction materials when selecting the most appropriate materials for public works projects.
为缓解全球变暖，日本和其他国家正在推广用木材替代混凝土和钢材，作为诸如谷坊等建设项目的主要建筑材料。由于诸如泥石流影响较小的地点以及有持续流水的地点等安装条件，木质谷坊的安装地点比混凝土或钢制谷坊更受限制。然而，即便满足安装条件，工程师和承包商也因木材高昂的建造成本而不愿选择其作为建筑材料。在本研究中，利用投入产出表对设计阶段建造木质谷坊与建造混凝土和钢制谷坊所产生的温室气体（GHG）排放进行比较，以定量评估木材利用的附加值（除其建造成本外）。结果显示，用木质谷坊替代混凝土和钢制谷坊可分别减少61%和34%的温室气体排放。本研究证明了在设计阶段评估建设项目温室气体排放的可能性。此外，它凸显了在为公共工程项目选择最合适材料时考虑建筑材料相关温室气体排放的重要性。
