A STATISTICAL IMPACT OF SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS ON CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND BUILDING LIFESPAN
Abstract
The growing popularity of environmental sustainability globally has created a big interest in the application of sustainable materials in construction. This paper explores how the use of sustainable materials has a statistically significant effect on building costs and building life span. A quantitative research method was used to gather data on 20 commercial and residential construction projects in different climatic areas and economic situations. The analysis is based on the comparison of the conventional construction materials (concrete, steel, and brick) with the sustainable ones (bamboo, recycled concrete, fly ash-based cement, and reclaimed wood). The study, based on the regression analysis and the correlation coefficient, demonstrates a subtle connection: the construction costs incurred using sustainable materials are slightly more expensive (with the margin of 8-15%), although the total lifecycle cost is lower due to reduced maintenance, increased energy efficiency, and better longevity. Also, the buildings built using sustainable materials were found to have an average 20-30% higher lifespan of the structure, which was partly due to the improved thermal performance and environmental degradation resistance. The results imply that the application of sustainable materials, even though more expensive initially, contributes to increased long-term economic and environmental profits. The study offers useful information to architects, policy-makers, developers, and construction professionals who want to embrace more sustainable practices without the need to dilute the structural performance or financial sustainability. The research also suggests that the cost estimation models need to be adjusted to include sustainability indices to understand material efficiency at the initial design stages.
Keywords : Sustainable construction, construction costs, building lifespan, eco-friendly materials, lifecycle analysis, green building, statistical analysis, cost-benefit evaluation, energy efficiency, material performance.
