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

¹ Civil Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, Sriwijaya University, Indonesia
² Civil Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, Sriwijaya University, Indonesia
³ Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia
⁴ Civil Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, Sriwijaya University, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: Anis Saggaff (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

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.