The Role of Life Cycle Structural Engineering in the Transition towards a Sustainable Building Renovation: Available Tools and Research Needs

Given the current climate emergency and ambitious targets of carbon emissions reduction, retrofitting strategies on existing buildings typically include reducing energy demand, decarbonising power supply, addressing embodied stored in materials. This latter point redefines role engineers transitions towards a sustainable construction sector, being they responsible for designing low impact, neutral solutions. A Life Cycle Structural Engineering (LCSE) approach, inspired by principles Thinking (LCT), should thus be adopted renovation buildings. Only recently have pioneering approaches been proposed, tackling multifaceted buildings’ needs, such as those related to consumption well seismic safety, but often disregarding LCT principles. study presents redefinition concept LCSE comprehensive review available methods tools operationalise approach practice, focusing consideration design process, integration loss estimation environmental impact assessment, implementation integrated strategies. The greatest ambition this work is boost paradigm shift building an interdisciplinary perspective assessment retrofitting.