Case Study of 3D Printed Concrete as Compared to Conventional Construction: Structural Comparison and Life Cycle Carbon Assessment

3D-printed concrete (3DPC) residential buildings represent innovative, computer-controlled processes and technologies with the potential to change the construction industry. The use of this technology in construction is still limited but the potential for growth is considerable. At present, worldwide, an estimated 150 buildings have been completed using 3D printed concrete. Despite advantages, such as increased material efficiency and design freedom, the environmental impacts of full scale construction using 3DPC has been heretofore little explored. This paper quantifies for the first time the total carbon impact of a 3DPC home compared to the same home designed with conventional construction methods, namely stick frame and concrete masonry unit (CMU). A case study of a 95 m2 (1023 sqft) single family home built in the Austin (TX, USA) area is presented and both embodied carbon and operational carbon (life cycle stages A1–A5, and B1–B7) are estimated throughout the life cycle of the building. The result of the assessment demonstrates that 3DPC construction has an embodied carbon footprint that is comparable to conventional construction, and a lower operational carbon footprint, resulting in a lower total carbon footprint.