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Influence of Resolution 1257 of 2021 on the Emissions of the Colombian Construction Sector: Part 2 - Transport Analysis

10.24050/reia.v22i44.1788
Published 2025-07-01
Articles

Abstract

It is currently recognized that the construction sector is one of the primary consumers of materials and generators of waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. In Colombia, Resolution 1257 of 2021 (a modification of Resolution 0472 of 2017) exists to ensure the proper management of Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW). However, it is crucial to analyze the influence of CDW management on the carbon footprint of buildings across different stages. For this reason, the present research aims to complement the technical assessment of the relationship between the regulatory component of CDW management and the carbon footprint associated with the transport of materials to the construction site and CDW to recovery or final disposal sites, using a high-rise building in the city of Medellín as a case study. The building was previously analyzed for the extraction and manufacturing stage of materials. In this context, four scenarios of compliance with Programa de Manejo Ambiental (PMA) were proposed based on different concrete mix designs of compressive strength 24 MPa, analyzing the transport of all materials to the construction site and the CDW to recovery or final disposal sites. The results showed that Scenario 4, which had the greatest reduction in the carbon footprint during the materials stage (338.1 kg CO2/m2 compared to 438.1 kg CO2/m2 in the baseline scenario), presented an increase in the transport stage (16.7 kg CO2/m2 compared to 13.6 kg CO2/m2 in the baseline scenario). This demonstrates the importance of conducting analyses across multiple stages of the building lifecycle, ensuring that decision-making leads to a reduction in the carbon footprint of construction projects.

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Authors

  • Nicolás Steven Pardo Álvarez

    Colegio Mayor de Antioquia

  • Kelly Leani Quintero García

    Colombia

  • Sergio Andrés Arboleda López

    Institución Universitaria Colegio Mayor de Antioquia

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