The Price of Progress: Unveiling the Environmental Cost of Urbanization in Tirana through Life Cycle Assessment
Authors
Dr. Kledja CANAJ, Faculty of Planning, Environment and Urban Management, POLIS University, Albania
Abstract
Urbanization in Tirana, like in many rapidly growing cities, poses significant environmental
sustainability challenges – particularly within the construction sector. This study conducts a cradleto-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a representative residential building to quantify its energy
use, material flows, environmental impacts, and external (eco-)costs throughout its life cycle. The
analysis reveals that the production phase – dominated by materials like concrete, cement, and
bricks – accounts for the majority of the impact, contributing €146.95 per m², or approximately 89%
of total eco-costs. The operation phase, including energy and water consumption, adds €6.19 per
m², while the end-of-life stage, particularly landfilling of inert waste, contributes €11.99 per m². In
total, the life cycle eco-cost amounts to €165.12 per m² of gross floor area, representing
approximately 13% of the direct purchase cost (€1275/m²). These findings highlight the critical
environmental burden of current urbanization patterns, emphasizing the need for circular
construction practices, energy-efficient building design, and adaptive reuse strategies in Tirana’s
housing sector. By quantifying environmental externalities in monetary terms, the study supports
data-driven policy interventions aligned with Albania’s sustainability goals and the broader
transition to resilient, low-impact urban development in the Western Balkans.
Keywords
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), eco-costs, urbanization, residential construction, Tirana
