The estimation of energy consumption and related CO₂ emissions from buildings is increasingly important in life-cycle assessment (LCA) studies that have been applied in the design of more energy-efficient building construction systems and materials. This study undertakes a life-cycle energy analysis (LCEA) and life-cycle CO₂ emissions analysis (LCCO₂A) of two common types of post-disaster temporary houses constructed in Turkey. The proposed model includes building construction, operation and demolition phases to estimate total energy use and CO₂ emissions over 15- and 25-year lifespans for container houses (CH) and prefabricated houses (PH) respectively. Energy efficiency and emission parameters are defined per m² and on a per capita basis. It is found that the operation phase is dominant in both PH and CH and contributes 86–88% of the primary energy requirements and 95–96% of CO₂ emissions. The embodied energy (EE) of the constructions accounts for 12–14% of the overall life-cycle energy consumption. The results show that life-cycle energy and emissions intensity in CH are higher than those for PH. However, this pattern is reversed when energy requirements are expressed on a per capita basis.

This research explores the advanced application of nano-silica (nS) in concrete, emphasizing its significant role in improving the mechanical strength and longevity of concrete structures. Unlike prior studies on nS in concrete, this work goes beyond evaluating typical performance metrics such as compressive strength, water absorption, air permeability, and drying shrinkage, by also examining the effect on production costs. The study involved detailed experimental procedures, where concrete mixtures were prepared with varying water-to-binder (w/b) ratios of 0.33, 0.45, and 0.55, and nS contents of 0, 1, 3, and 5 percent by binder weight. The results indicate that a 3% nS admixture significantly boosts compressive strength and reduces both water and gas permeability, although it also leads to an increase in drying shrinkage. Furthermore, the cost analysis shows that even a small 1% addition of nS can raise production costs, underscoring the importance of balancing cost-effectiveness with performance improvements when considering nS for concrete applications.