Research

Publications & conference work.

Peer-reviewed publications and conference work on sustainable design, BIM, and carbon-neutral construction. Co-authored with Gulbin Ozcan-Deniz (Jefferson University) where indicated.

Full list also on Google Scholar .

Journal article · IJAC · 2026

Towards carbon-neutral construction: Integrating BIM and energy analysis for sustainable design decision-making

This study investigates how Building Information Modeling (BIM) and energy analysis tools can be integrated into early-stage design decisions to support the transition toward carbon-neutral construction. By analyzing design models and their environmental implications—including CO₂ emissions—the research proposes a workflow that informs material and system choices when their embodied- and operational-carbon impact is most adjustable.

Gulbin Ozcan-Deniz, Sarah Rodovalho. (2026). "Towards carbon-neutral construction: Integrating BIM and energy analysis for sustainable design decision-making." International Journal of Architectural Computing, 24(1), 302-319.

DOI: 10.1177/14780771241310213 Read paper Cited by 3 (as of 2026-05-09)

Journal article · Sustainability · 2025

Analyzing CO₂ Emissions by CSI Categories: A Life Cycle Perspective

This paper presents a comprehensive life-cycle assessment (LCA) of CO₂ emissions across Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) categories, identifying the carbon footprint of different building systems and materials. The results show that concrete divisions consistently emerge as the predominant contributors to global warming potential, exceeding 75% in several instances— pointing to where material substitution and embodied-carbon mitigation deliver the largest emissions reductions across construction phases.

Gulbin Ozcan-Deniz, Sarah Rodovalho. (2025). "Analyzing CO₂ Emissions by CSI Categories: A Life Cycle Perspective." Sustainability, 17(15), art. 6830.

DOI: 10.3390/su17156830 Read paper

Conference panel · ARCC 2025 · 2025

Integrating Comprehensive Wellbeing and Net-Zero Energy in Healthcare Design

Conference panel presentation exploring the intersection of net-zero energy building (NZEB) strategies and human-wellbeing design criteria in healthcare facilities. Bridges the typically siloed fields of operational-carbon reduction and patient/staff wellbeing-oriented design, proposing integrated design protocols for healthcare environments.

Sarah Rodovalho. (2025). "Integrating Comprehensive Wellbeing and Net-Zero Energy in Healthcare Design." ARCC 2025 International Conference — Architectural Research Centers Consortium.

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