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Transportation is a key factor in the fight against climate change. Consumer behavior changes in transportation are underrepresented in energy policies, even if they could be essential to achieve the fixed GHG emission reduction targets. To help quantify the role of behaviors in energy transition and their implications on the dynamics of an energy system, this study is conducted using the North American TIMES Energy Model, adapted to Quebec (Canada). A behavioral disruption scenario (an increase in carpooling) is introduced in the model’s transportation sector and is compared to a massive electrification scenario. Our results highlight the fact that a behavioral disruption can lead to the same GHG emission reductions (65%) by 2050 as an electrification policy, while alleviating different efforts (such as additional electrical capacity and additional costs) associated with massive electrification. Moreover, the results are sensitive to behavior-related parameters, such as social discount rates and car lifetimes.
Marianne Pedinotti-Castelle; Pierre-Olivier Pineau; Kathleen Vaillancourt; Ben Amor. Changing Technology or Behavior? The Impacts of a Behavioral Disruption. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5861 .
AMA StyleMarianne Pedinotti-Castelle, Pierre-Olivier Pineau, Kathleen Vaillancourt, Ben Amor. Changing Technology or Behavior? The Impacts of a Behavioral Disruption. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (11):5861.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarianne Pedinotti-Castelle; Pierre-Olivier Pineau; Kathleen Vaillancourt; Ben Amor. 2021. "Changing Technology or Behavior? The Impacts of a Behavioral Disruption." Sustainability 13, no. 11: 5861.
The residential sector has a major role to play in the transition to green energy. The heating and cooling of buildings represents 40% of global energy consumption, while vast energy savings potential remains largely unexploited. Given the low turnover of housing stock and ambitious emission reduction targets, most of this potential will require retrofitting existing buildings. In this study, we investigate how to best take advantage of retrofits in the residential sector of Quebec (Canada) using environmental and economic criteria. Within the province, heating is mainly powered by electricity from renewable sources. We propose an approach based on a consequential life cycle assessment that focuses on marginal impacts combined with “consequential life cycle costing.” Seven alternatives using different heating systems and building envelopes are compared to a reference case, which consists of a typical detached house heated with electric baseboards. This approach permits an assessment of cost-efficiency and sustainable technological solutions. Our results show that the amount of energy saved by retrofits (especially for air source heat pumps with and without building envelop improvements) generates environmental and economic benefits. Furthermore, if the saved electricity is exported to replace natural gas, then the local electricity savings is quite beneficial. These results provide key new insights on the energy policies affecting the building sector, especially for regions in cold climates such as Quebec.
Marianne Pedinotti-Castelle; Miguel F. Astudillo; Pierre-Olivier Pineau; Ben Amor. Is the environmental opportunity of retrofitting the residential sector worth the life cycle cost? A consequential assessment of a typical house in Quebec. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2018, 101, 428 -439.
AMA StyleMarianne Pedinotti-Castelle, Miguel F. Astudillo, Pierre-Olivier Pineau, Ben Amor. Is the environmental opportunity of retrofitting the residential sector worth the life cycle cost? A consequential assessment of a typical house in Quebec. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2018; 101 ():428-439.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarianne Pedinotti-Castelle; Miguel F. Astudillo; Pierre-Olivier Pineau; Ben Amor. 2018. "Is the environmental opportunity of retrofitting the residential sector worth the life cycle cost? A consequential assessment of a typical house in Quebec." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 101, no. : 428-439.