Sustainability metrics for efficient and innovative residential building wall systems

With sustainability becoming more recognized and desirable by homeowners, designers need to have better metrics to make solutions possible. One of the most effective building components that can be optimized for sustainability purposes is the wall system. To select the proper wall system that is efficient and at times innovative, there is a need to better understand how metrics relate to different wall configurations and materials. This paper expands upon prior works to identify the key sustainability metrics for residential wall systems that designers, builders and homeowners can use to assess and select the best wall system. The metrics highlighted include: embodied energy, material-specific, and impact on the environment. These metrics will be examined for wall systems made up of: Insulated Concrete Form, Wood-Frame, Steel Stud, Structural Insulated Panel, Concrete Masonry Unit, Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, and Precast Concrete.