Prefabricated building construction in materialization phase as catalysts for hotel low-carbon transitions via hybrid...

This study examines the carbon emissions of star-rated hotels in Hangzhou, comparing the environmental impact of prefabricated construction (PC) and conventional construction (CC) methodologies. The research reveals that PC generally results in lower carbon emissions during the materialization phase, with notable variations across different hotel star levels and administrative regions. Higher-star hotels exhibit higher total emissions, primarily due to larger scale and reliance on conventional construction methods. In contrast, lower-tier hotels benefit more consistently from the adoption of prefabricated construction, leading to significant reductions in carbon emissions. Regional analysis shows that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hotel turnover and carbon decoupling trends varies, with core urban areas experiencing a more pronounced decoupling effect, while suburban regions exhibited slower recovery. The findings underscore the potential for prefabricated construction to reduce carbon footprints, particularly in mid-tier and lower-tier hotels. This study contributes to the understanding of sustainable construction practices in the hotel industry and provides a foundation for future research focused on refining carbon emission assessments, incorporating real-world data, and exploring the integration of renewable energy and lifecycle emissions.