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The concept of (net) zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emission(s) buildings is gaining wide international attention and is considered to be the main pathway for achieving climate neutrality targets in the built environment. However, there is an increasing plethora of differing terms, definitions, and approaches emerging worldwide. To understand the current progress of the ongoing discussion, this study provides an overview of terms, definitions, and key features from a review of 35 building assessment approaches. The investigation identified that 13 voluntary frameworks from 11 countries are particularly characterised by net zero-carbon/GHG emissions performance targets, which are then subject to a more detailed analysis. The review was organised in the context of the project IEA EBC Annex 72 on “Assessing Life Cycle Related Environmental Impacts Caused by Buildings”, which involves researchers from over 25 countries worldwide. In the current dynamic political surroundings and ongoing scientific debate, only an initial overview of this topic can be presented. However, providing typologies and fostering transparency would be instrumental in delivering clarity, limiting misunderstanding, and avoiding potential greenwashing. To this end, this article categorises the most critical methodological options—i.e., system boundaries for both operational and embodied GHG emissions, the type of GHG emission factor for electricity use, the approach to the “time” aspect, and the possibilities of GHG emission compensation—into a comprehensive framework for clarifying or setting (net) zero GHG emission building definitions in a more systematic way. The article concludes that although variations in the existing approaches will continue to exist, certain minimum directions should be considered for the future development of harmonised (net) zero GHG emissions building frameworks. As a minimum, it is recommended to extend the usual scope of the operational energy use balance. At the same time, minimum requirements must also be set for embodied GHG emissions even if they are not considered in the carbon/GHG emissions balance.
D. Satola; M. Balouktsi; T. Lützkendorf; A. Houlihan Wiberg; A. Gustavsen. How to define (net) zero greenhouse gas emissions buildings: The results of an international survey as part of IEA EBC annex 72. Building and Environment 2021, 192, 107619 .
AMA StyleD. Satola, M. Balouktsi, T. Lützkendorf, A. Houlihan Wiberg, A. Gustavsen. How to define (net) zero greenhouse gas emissions buildings: The results of an international survey as part of IEA EBC annex 72. Building and Environment. 2021; 192 ():107619.
Chicago/Turabian StyleD. Satola; M. Balouktsi; T. Lützkendorf; A. Houlihan Wiberg; A. Gustavsen. 2021. "How to define (net) zero greenhouse gas emissions buildings: The results of an international survey as part of IEA EBC annex 72." Building and Environment 192, no. : 107619.
Improving the environmental life cycle performance of buildings by focusing on the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions along the building life cycle is considered a crucial step in achieving global climate targets. This paper provides a systematic review and analysis of 75 residential case studies in humid subtropical and tropical climates. The study investigates GHG emissions across the building life cycle, i.e., it analyses both embodied and operational GHG emissions. Furthermore, the influence of various parameters, such as building location, typology, construction materials and energy performance, as well as methodological aspects are investigated. Through comparative analysis, the study identifies promising design strategies for reducing life cycle-related GHG emissions of buildings operating in subtropical and tropical climate zones. The results show that life cycle GHG emissions in the analysed studies are mostly dominated by operational emissions and are the highest for energy-intensive multi-family buildings. Buildings following low or net-zero energy performance targets show potential reductions of 50–80% for total life cycle GHG emissions, compared to buildings with conventional energy performance. Implementation of on-site photovoltaic (PV) systems provides the highest reduction potential for both operational and total life cycle GHG emissions, with potential reductions of 92% to 100% and 48% to 66%, respectively. Strategies related to increased use of timber and other bio-based materials present the highest potential for reduction of embodied GHG emissions, with reductions of 9% to 73%.
Daniel Satola; Martin Röck; Aoife Houlihan-Wiberg; Arild Gustavsen. Life Cycle GHG Emissions of Residential Buildings in Humid Subtropical and Tropical Climates: Systematic Review and Analysis. Buildings 2020, 11, 6 .
AMA StyleDaniel Satola, Martin Röck, Aoife Houlihan-Wiberg, Arild Gustavsen. Life Cycle GHG Emissions of Residential Buildings in Humid Subtropical and Tropical Climates: Systematic Review and Analysis. Buildings. 2020; 11 (1):6.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDaniel Satola; Martin Röck; Aoife Houlihan-Wiberg; Arild Gustavsen. 2020. "Life Cycle GHG Emissions of Residential Buildings in Humid Subtropical and Tropical Climates: Systematic Review and Analysis." Buildings 11, no. 1: 6.
Providing sustainable and affordable housing in rapidly developing regions in East Asia is an essential need, which can be satisfied by the market implementation of prefabricated, modular units, with a high energy-efficient performance. This study presents a comparative analysis of a factory-made residential unit, produced and located in Shanghai, China. A combination of energy analyses and life-cycle assessments is performed to quantify the life-cycle impacts related to various energy efficiency designs (convectional, low-energy, net-zero energy and off-grid) of a building module, developed from a new shipping container. The life-cycle assessment results indicate that the net-zero energy design strategy has the lowest life-cycle impacts in all categories, with 26% reduction in water consumption and up to 86% reduction in terms of global warming potential with respect to the convectional, baseline design. The ambition of becoming independent from the local electricity grid in the off-grid design results in nearly two-fold larger PV system when compared to the net-zero energy design, resulting in average 59% increase of total life cycle impacts. The sensitivity analysis shows that projected climate change effects have a minor influence on the life-cycle impacts, whereas the potential reuse of the building structure provides significant environmental benefits. Comparison with existing literature studies demonstrates the significant GHG emissions mitigation potential related to the implementation of off-grid and zero energy buildings in rural, remote, or post-disaster areas with limited electricity access and energy facilities based on fossil fuels.
D. Satola; A.B. Kristiansen; A. Houlihan-Wiberg; A. Gustavsen; T. Ma; R.Z. Wang. Comparative life cycle assessment of various energy efficiency designs of a container-based housing unit in China: A case study. Building and Environment 2020, 186, 107358 .
AMA StyleD. Satola, A.B. Kristiansen, A. Houlihan-Wiberg, A. Gustavsen, T. Ma, R.Z. Wang. Comparative life cycle assessment of various energy efficiency designs of a container-based housing unit in China: A case study. Building and Environment. 2020; 186 ():107358.
Chicago/Turabian StyleD. Satola; A.B. Kristiansen; A. Houlihan-Wiberg; A. Gustavsen; T. Ma; R.Z. Wang. 2020. "Comparative life cycle assessment of various energy efficiency designs of a container-based housing unit in China: A case study." Building and Environment 186, no. : 107358.
The primary objective of this paper is to investigate whether is it possible to achieve a zero greenhouse gas emission residential building (ZEB) operating in a humid subtropical climate. Sydney, Atlanta, Shanghai and New Delhi, recognised as main regional policymaker centres, were included in the scope of analysis as referential locations. Calculations of annual energy consumption, embodied emissions from production (A1-A3) and replacement (B4) of construction materials, as well as on-site renewable energy production, were performed on the basis of mandatory energy standards, building performance simulations and generic, process-based life cycle data. All calculations were based on a single-family building model with timber construction. All building’s thermal energy demands are provided by electrical air-to-water heat pump with a backup from an electric coil heater. Additionally, the roof-mounted photovoltaic system is used specifically to reduce GHG emission from building operation and materials. The preliminary results of this study show that zero emission ambition level for residential building is obtained in Sydney and Atlanta, where mandatory energy codes enforced high standards of building energy performance. The paper presents and discusses the results of the environmental impact for a model residential building in each of the specific humid subtropical climate locations. Additionally, general adjustments of the energy codes requirements that could enable higher ZEB ambitions are proposed.
Daniel Satola; Aoife Houlihan Wiberg; Arild Gustavsen. Towards Zero Emission Residential Buildings (ZEBs) in a Humid Subtropical Climate. Analysis Emissions from Energy Use and Embodied Emissions from Materials in Referential Locations According to Obligatory Residential Energy Codes and Using Generic LCA Data Sources. Soil and Recycling Management in the Anthropocene Era 2020, 979 -989.
AMA StyleDaniel Satola, Aoife Houlihan Wiberg, Arild Gustavsen. Towards Zero Emission Residential Buildings (ZEBs) in a Humid Subtropical Climate. Analysis Emissions from Energy Use and Embodied Emissions from Materials in Referential Locations According to Obligatory Residential Energy Codes and Using Generic LCA Data Sources. Soil and Recycling Management in the Anthropocene Era. 2020; ():979-989.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDaniel Satola; Aoife Houlihan Wiberg; Arild Gustavsen. 2020. "Towards Zero Emission Residential Buildings (ZEBs) in a Humid Subtropical Climate. Analysis Emissions from Energy Use and Embodied Emissions from Materials in Referential Locations According to Obligatory Residential Energy Codes and Using Generic LCA Data Sources." Soil and Recycling Management in the Anthropocene Era , no. : 979-989.
Implementing China’s emission reduction regulations requires a design approach that integrates specific architectural and functional properties of railway stations with low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. This article analyzes life cycle GHG emissions related to materials production, replacement and operational energy use to identify design drivers and reduction strategies implemented in high-speed railway station (HSRS) buildings. A typical middle-sized HSRS building in a cold climate zone in China is studied. A detailed methodology was proposed for the development and assessment of emission reduction strategies through life cycle assessment (LCA), combined with a building information model (BIM). The results reveal that operational emissions contribute the most to total GHG emissions, constituting approximately 81% while embodied material emissions constitute 19%, with 94 kgCO2eq/m2·a and 22 kgCO2eq/m2·a respectively. Optimizing space can reduce operational GHG emissions and service life extension of insulation materials contributes to a 15% reduction in embodied GHG emissions. In all three scenarios, the reduction potentials of space, envelope, and material type optimization were 28.2%, 13.1%, and 3.5% and that measures for reduced life cycle emissions should focus on space in the early stage of building design. This study addresses the research gap by investigating the life cycle GHG emissions from HSRS buildings and reduction strategies to help influence the design decisions of similar projects and large space public buildings which are critical for emission reduction on a larger scale.
Nan Wang; Daniel Satola; Aoife Houlihan Wiberg; Conghong Liu; Arild Gustavsen. Reduction Strategies for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from High-Speed Railway Station Buildings in a Cold Climate Zone of China. Sustainability 2020, 12, 1704 .
AMA StyleNan Wang, Daniel Satola, Aoife Houlihan Wiberg, Conghong Liu, Arild Gustavsen. Reduction Strategies for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from High-Speed Railway Station Buildings in a Cold Climate Zone of China. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (5):1704.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNan Wang; Daniel Satola; Aoife Houlihan Wiberg; Conghong Liu; Arild Gustavsen. 2020. "Reduction Strategies for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from High-Speed Railway Station Buildings in a Cold Climate Zone of China." Sustainability 12, no. 5: 1704.
In developing countries, electrification of rural and remote areas is an essential need for improving socio-economic conditions. However, increased access to adequate electricity and upgraded facilities may double or even triple present greenhouse gas emissions related to residential buildings operation. From both socio-economic and environmental perspective, implementation of solar-powered houses is widely considered as a sustainable. Power reliability is a key indicator used in assessing the annual performance of the off-grid housing operation. The primary objective of this article is to ascertain the impact of three main ventilation system types: natural (NV), mechanical with heat recovery (MV) and hybrid (HV) on annual power reliability of the case, off-grid building located in Shanghai. Firstly, three scenarios of hourly electricity loads profiles were calculated from an annual simulation via building performance software (BPS). Secondly, electrical load profiles were integrated into a developed model of alternating current (AC) coupled battery off-grid energy system model. The results indicate that the HV system provided the lowest annual electricity consumption (2847 kWh) and the best annual power reliability (98.6%) when compared to MV (2935kWh, 98.5%) and NV (2901kWh, 98.0%). The article discusses correlation between building ventilation scenarios, electrical loads and resultant annual power reliability. In conclusion economic viability of mechanical/hybrid ventilation implementation in off-grid housing is called into question.
Daniel Satola; Audun Bull Kristiansen; Jakub Dziedzic; Arild Gustavsen. Assessing the annual power reliability of a residential building in relation to its ventilation system type: The case study of the off-grid container house in Shanghai. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 2019, 609, 072065 .
AMA StyleDaniel Satola, Audun Bull Kristiansen, Jakub Dziedzic, Arild Gustavsen. Assessing the annual power reliability of a residential building in relation to its ventilation system type: The case study of the off-grid container house in Shanghai. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. 2019; 609 (7):072065.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDaniel Satola; Audun Bull Kristiansen; Jakub Dziedzic; Arild Gustavsen. 2019. "Assessing the annual power reliability of a residential building in relation to its ventilation system type: The case study of the off-grid container house in Shanghai." IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 609, no. 7: 072065.