Lately, increasing attention is being placed on sustainable construction or sustainable development, because we as a society are beginning to be aware of the consequences of the use of building materials and their impact on our health. The reason behind this greater focus on and interest in sustainable development is the fact that buildings are responsible for 40% of final energy consumption, for at least 36% of CO2 emissions, and, last but not least, for a substantial amount of waste (40%) generated during construction and use. One method of assessing the environmental impact of products is the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which enables a quantitative assessment of the burden on the environment caused by products and systems in all stages of their service life. The master's thesis presents an analysis of the environmental impacts of building products used in constructional assemblies that make up individual versions of a single-family house. The analysis was conducted using the Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which provide information on the impact of building products on the environment by referring to the results of the LCA methodology. The environmental impact was assessed by considering the A1–A3 (“cradle-to-gate”) life cycle stages, which covers only a part of the life cycle before the product is delivered to the user, i.e. from the raw material extraction and manufacture to the factory gate. The master's thesis begins by analysing and comparing the environmental impact of individual building materials which make up the constructional assemblies of the discussed versions of the building. It continues by analysing the building as a whole and assessing individual environmental impact indicators for the planned structural designs. In the end, it uses a simplified scoring system to assess the total (comprehensive) environmental impact, taking into account the environmental impacts in all seven categories. This total (comprehensive) environmental impact of all seven categories was then assessed in a simplified way, and individual versions of the building were classified according to their environmental impact. It has been established that the filigree structure versions don't always show a lower environmental impact than the solid structure designs. As it turns out, wooden buildings have the lowest environmental impact. The materials used for the load-bearing structure (not including brick, concrete and aerated concrete) and for the thermal insulation have a dominant impact on the environment. Based on the results, it has been established that the end results are influenced by the structural design (massive or framed) and by the combination of the materials used.
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