What does this research mean for the field?

The life cycle carbon footprint of the Engineering Tower at Sriwijaya University is quantified at 15,302 tCO₂e, with operational energy accounting for 68% of the total. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.SUPPORTS_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The central aim is to quantify the carbon footprint of green buildings in Indonesia using a life cycle assessment framework that aligns with national standards.

March 10, 2026

A Life Cycle Framework Model for Quantifying the Carbon Footprint of Green Buildings Based on the Indonesian Building Code, Case Study: Engineering Tower, Sriwijaya University, Palembang

Key Points

The central aim is to quantify the carbon footprint of green buildings in Indonesia using a life cycle assessment framework that aligns with national standards.
Developed a life cycle assessment framework integrating Indonesian national standards and emission factors.
Applied the framework to the Engineering Tower at Sriwijaya University, assessing stages from embodied to operational carbon.
Utilized localized inventory data and sensitivity analyses to evaluate carbon reduction potential.
Total whole-life carbon footprint amounts to 15,302 tCO₂e, averaging 1,510 kgCO₂e/m².
Operational energy represents the highest carbon contribution at 68%, followed by embodied materials at 24%.
Proposed strategies could reduce carbon footprint by approximately 20% through grid decarbonization and cement substitution.

Abstract

This study presents a life cycle assessment (LCA)-based framework to quantify the carbon footprint of green buildings in Indonesia, explicitly aligning the model with national building standards and policy contexts. The framework integrates Indonesian standards and national emission factor resources into a stage-wise LCA (embodied, operational, and end-of-life) suitable for building practitioners and researchers. Applied to the Engineering Tower at Sriwijaya University (Palembang), an 8-story, 10,141 m² reinforced concrete educational facility, the framework was validated across life cycle stages A1-A5, B1-B7, and C1-C4 using localized inventory data, including the South Sumatra grid emission factor (0.78 kgCO₂e/kWh) and material take-offs from project documentation.The 50- year whole-life carbon totals 15,302 tCO₂e, equivalent to 1,510 kgCO₂e/m² (30.2 kgCO₂e/m²·year). Operational energy (B6) dominates at 68%, followed by embodied materials (A1-A5) at 24%, and end-of-life (C1-C4) at 5%. Sensitivity analyses demonstrate that a combined scenario of 20% grid decarbonization and 30% cement substitution (fly ash/slag) can reduce whole-li*fe carbon by approximately 20%.The IGBC-LCA framework translates Indonesia's Green Building provisions (PP 16/2021; Permen PUPR 21/2021) into a quantitative, policy-ready approach for benchmarking, early-stage optimization, and national decarbonization roadmap development. This study demonstrates how standardized, code- aware LCA improves comparability and decision-making while identifying the most influential life cycle stages for carbon reduction strategies.

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A Life Cycle Framework Model for Quantifying the Carbon Footprint of Green Buildings Based on the Indonesian Building Code, Case Study: Engineering Tower, Sriwijaya University, Palembang

Key Points

Abstract

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