| The subjects of energy crisis and environmental degradation have been attracting attentions from both academic and construction industry practice throughout the world. The construction industry has been traditionally seen as a major energy consumer and environmental polluter. There are many factors affecting the efficiency of using energy during the life cycle of a building, and these factors appear at different stages and affect energy use in different ways. Therefore, it is important to investigate management methods for improving the efficiency of using energy from the perspective of a building's life cycle.; The major works of this study include examining various energy management approaches developed previously, investigating the factors that affect the efficiency of energy use across a building's life cycle, investigating the factors affecting the efficiency of practicing energy management in building industry, identifying the existing weak areas in managing energy use during a building's life cycle, and formulating management solutions for enabling the efficient use of energy.; The methodology of life cycle analysis (LCA) is adopted in conducting the analysis. Detailed surveys have been conducted for collecting research data and support the analysis. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is employed for helping conduct data analysis, including the identification of the major factors affecting energy management. Interview surveys are used for testing the applicability of the proposed energy management methods. An alternative mathematical model is built up to forecast the potential value of applying these methods. Data used for analysis is focused on the practice in the building industry of Mainland China. The Chinese building industry has been consuming substantial amount of energy but with low efficiency. The building industry of Mainland China will continue to be a major industry in the future. The improvement of energy management in the building industry of Mainland China is considered significant. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
