Analytical Assessment of Embodied Energy in Building Materials: A Sustainable Structural Design Perspective in the Libyan Context

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Published: Nov 1, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51984/sucp.v4i3.4085
Keywords:
Sustainability, Life Cycle Energy Analysis, Embodied Energy, Structural System

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Mohamed Ali karim
Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, School of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Academy for Postgraduate Studies
Abdualraouf Ali Mohamed
Civil Eng. Department, Faculty of Engineering, Elmergib University

Abstract

This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the concept of Embodied Energy and its central importance in evaluating the sustainability of materials and construction projects within the building sector. Embodied energy is defined as the total energy consumed across the entire lifecycle of a material. This includes raw material extraction, processing, manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and ultimately, end-of-life considerations (recycling or disposal). The study highlights that embodied energy can represent over 50% of a building's total lifecycle energy consumption, particularly in structures with high operational efficiency. By adopting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, informed design decisions can be made. The study presents analytical data for the embodied energy of common building materials, demonstrating significant variation. Materials such as aluminum and steel show high values compared to concrete and wood. A case study of a residential building in Libya is included, comparing a structural frame system with a load-bearing wall system. The load-bearing wall system demonstrates approximately 18% lower embodied energy. The findings emphasize the importance of early design choices and recommend the adoption of policies supporting the use of materials and systems with low embodied energy to achieve genuine environmental sustainability in the construction sector.

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How to Cite
karim, M. A., & Abdualraouf Ali Mohamed. (2025). Analytical Assessment of Embodied Energy in Building Materials: A Sustainable Structural Design Perspective in the Libyan Context. Sebha University Conference Proceedings, 4(3), 239–248. https://doi.org/10.51984/sucp.v4i3.4085
Conference Proceedings Volume
Sebha University Conference Proceedings, Vol 4, No. 3, 2025: Proceeding of the 8th International Conferences of Scientific and Technology (ICST)
Section
Confrence Proceeding
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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