The operational energy efficiency of new buildings in the EU should be at the level of ultra-low or near-zero energy buildings. It is therefore relatively difficult to achieve further energy savings. However, the pre-operational phase—raw material sourcing, manufacturing, transportation, and construction—offers significant energy savings and greenhouse gas reduction opportunities, referred to as embodied energy and equivalent CO₂ emissions. Unlike operational energy, no standard or legislative criteria have yet been established for embodied energy. Setting maximum embodied energy values converted to the unit of heated building area, accounting for building shape factor, and differentiating between high-mass and lightweight constructions are proposed. This study illustrates assessing environmental indicators based on building shape, highlighting the necessity of relative assessments over absolute values to favour energy efficiency. It also emphasizes that precise criteria should derive from authentic data collected during the energy certification and building permitting processes. Integrating assessments of embodied energy and operational energy demand facilitates a comprehensive evaluation of buildings’ environmental performance.

The article presents the results of stability calculation of reinforced concrete columns using light steel thin-walled structures investigation. Two steel thin-walled profiles of type “C” or “∑” were used as the steel shell of such columns. The profiles were combined in the form of a box section with bolts. To increase the stability of the shell, the inner cavity was filled with concrete with lightweight aggregates. Technique of steel thin-walled elements stability calculation with consideration of concreting and joint work of the whole structure involves two types of calculation: for central compression and for joint action of compression and uniaxial bending. To verify the analytical calculations, a computer simulation was performed, which proved the correctness of the theoretical calculations and made it possible to clearly observe the different forms of column stability loss at different coefficients of overload. It was found that the increase of bearing capacity due to the thickness of the profile varies within 2-10%. For smaller profiles this difference is significant (10-23%), and for larger profiles - smaller (5-8%). This is due to the complexity of the manufacturing technology and the cost of materials.

A survey and assessment of the technical condition of basement and semi-basement structures in public buildings aged 60 to 130 years were conducted to evaluate their suitability for use as basic shelters. Based on the survey results, the most adverse impacts were identified, including changes in groundwater levels, improper building operation, and the characteristic damages to underground structural elements. Structural solutions were proposed to eliminate the consequences of these damages. The reviewed cases indicate that the vertical and horizontal waterproofing systems used during construction cannot perform their function throughout the building’s entire life cycle. When designing new buildings, waterproof materials should be used for the enclosing structures of underground premises. While this may have a higher initial cost than membrane or coating waterproofing, considering life-cycle costs, it can provide a positive economic effect and improve the quality and comfort of the indoor environment.

This study investigates the influence of geometric parameters—size, proportions, number of floors, and roof shape—on the environmental efficiency of family houses using a simplified life cycle assessment (LCA) method. The analysis focuses on the product stage (A1–A3), commonly referred to as “cradle to gate,” which encompasses embodied emissions and energy. It demonstrates that even within the limited scope of the product stage (A1–A3), geometric parameters such as floor area, proportions, and compactness exert a decisive influence on embodied environmental impacts. In addition to absolute and per-square-meter indicators, the analysis highlights the importance of the shape factor, defined as the ratio of envelope area to heated volume, as a fairer basis for comparing buildings of different geometries. Similar to its established role in operational energy certification, the shape factor provides a meaningful link between geometry and embodied impacts. The findings suggest that future implementation of the Energy Performance of Building Directive IV (EPBD IV, EU 2024/1275), which mandates the calculation of the global warming potential (GWP) of new buildings from 2028 onwards, could benefit from evaluating both primary energy non-renewable (PENRT) and global warming potential (GWP) in relation to the shape factor, once sufficient data become available. The presented study thus contributes to the ongoing European debate on whole-life-cycle carbon assessment while clarifying its novelty as a geometry-based, product-stage method that can be scaled and adapted to different contexts. The proposed simplified, geometry-oriented approach to estimating embodied impacts (A1–A3) with shape factor-based normalisation enables a fair comparison of buildings with different geometries at the concept stage.

The paper provides analysis of the state of the building envelope thermal reliability issue in Ukraine. It has been found that ensuring the reliability of the building envelope results only in economic losses and is not related to human losses, and therefore the question of normalization of no-failure performance probability of the construction upon the criterion of insufficient value of the reduced total thermal resistance is purely economic. The paper develops normalization of the required level of building envelope no-failure performance probability upon the criterion of reduced total thermal resistance. The suggested method of the required level standardization of building envelope no-failure performance probability upon the criterion of insufficient value of the reduced total thermal resistance of building envelope is proposed for the developers of normative documents, state standards, company standards or technical specifications. Designers should use only the calculated and average values of the minimum permissible thermal resistance, specified in the above-mentioned documents.