QUANTIFYING THE NET CARBON PERFORMANCE OF A BAMBOO HALL IN MALAYSIA USING LIFECYCLE ANALYSIS

Abstract

The construction sector contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, increasing demand for low-carbon building materials and lifecycle-based assessment approaches. This study quantifies the net carbon performance of a bamboo hall in Ipoh, Malaysia, using a lifecycle carbon assessment framework integrating carbon sequestration, embodied carbon, and operational carbon emissions. The functional unit was one completed bamboo hall with a total construction volume of 90 m³ over a 30-year service life. The system boundary included bamboo growth, harvesting, treatment, transportation, installation, and operational electricity use. A three-phase methodology was employed. Phase 1 estimated carbon sequestration potential of four bamboo species using the LICOR6400XT Portable Photosynthesis System. Phase 2 quantified embodied carbon emissions from harvesting, processing, transportation, and installation activities. Phase 3 projected operational carbon emissions based on electricity consumption assumptions and Malaysia’s 2025 grid emission factor. Results showed that the bamboo hall sequestered 178,548 kg CO₂e, while embodied and operational emissions totalled 19,207.1 kg CO₂e over the 30-year lifecycle. The resulting net carbon balance was −159,340.9 kg CO₂e, indicating that carbon sequestration was approximately 9.3 times greater than total lifecycle emissions under the defined assumptions. These findings demonstrate the potential of bamboo construction as a nature-based solution for climate mitigation.