Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Construction, Particularly in Underground Foundation Systems: A Comparison of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Between the New Steel Pile Foundation System (Screwpile) and the Traditional Concrete Pile Foundation

Abstract

The construction industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly in foundation systems. This study compares the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of steel screw piles and traditional concrete piles to evaluate their environmental impacts across all lifecycle stages. The findings indicate that concrete piles have a higher carbon footprint, primarily due to energy-intensive transportation, installation, excavation, and demolition processes. In contrast, steel screw piles allow for faster installation, require less energy and labor, and offer reusability (Reuse), reducing construction waste. Additionally, this study assesses the economic feasibility of steel screw piles by considering energy consumption, labor costs, and Carbon Footprint Organization factors. The results contribute to promoting low-carbon foundation design that enables further structural development and supports sustainable urban construction in alignment with national and global environmental policies. 

Keywords: Greenhouse gas emissions, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Carbon Footprint Product (CFP), Sustainable construction, Steel screw piles,