Strategies to Improve the Energy Performance of Buildings: A Review of Their Life Cycle Impact
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methodology
- RQ1: What is the weight of each life cycle phase in the total environmental impact of a building (product stage of materials, construction process stage, use stage and end-of-life stage)?
- ○
- For a current building;
- ○
- For a low energy building;
- ○
- For a nearly zero energy building (NZEB);
- ○
- For a Passive House building;
- ○
- For an energy positive building.
- RQ2: What tipping points for insulation thicknesses are identified in literature? Tipping points are defined as additional insulation thicknesses leading to lower energy efficiency gains than additional impacts.
- RQ3: What is the relative contribution of insulation in relation to the total building life cycle impacts and impacts of the construction phase of the building?
- RQ4: What is the relative contribution of the technical equipment for renewable energy in relation to the total building life cycle impacts, and in relation to the impact of the construction and use phase (replacement and maintenance)?
- RQ5: What is the ratio between impacts produced by insulation in relation to impacts avoided through energy savings? This question also considers the ratio of impacts produced by technical systems for renewable energy in relation to impacts avoided by them.
- RQ6: If the life cycle cost (LCC) is also assessed, are the LCC conclusions similar to the LCA conclusions?
- The initial list of literature sources could not provide enough qualified information to satisfactorily answer the identified research questions.
- A keyword string for each unanswered question was initially defined, and searched for in Scopus (covering a wide set of international databases, such as ScienceDirect and Springer).
- The final sample of papers was selected through three exclusion rounds, for each keyword string: a title analysis, an abstract analysis and a full paper analysis.
- The literature selected covered different European Member States in order to provide a representative state-of-the-art on the topic and covered different building realities.
- A temporal boundary was established as an exclusion criterion: studies had to be published from 2010 forward, to assure representation of the best available practices.
- The search was restricted to papers published in journals with an Impact factor ≥2.
3. Results
3.1. Overview—Meta-Analysis
3.2. Research Questions
3.2.1. Research Question 1: Weight of Each Life Cycle Stage
- Seven current buildings or buildings that are built in a conventional way;
- One NZEB building;
- Eight buildings according to Passive House standard;
- Six energy positive buildings;
- Two low energy buildings;
- Two energy efficient buildings;
- And 11 cases in which the paper did not mention or describe which type of energy performance the case represented.
3.2.2. Research Question 2: Tipping Point for Insulation
3.2.3. Research Question 3: Weight of Insulation Materials in Total Building Life Cycle Impact
3.2.4. Research Question 4: Weight of Renewable Energy Services in Total Building Life Cycle Impact
3.2.5. Research Question 5: Impacts Caused vs. Impacts Avoided
3.2.6. Research Question 6: Comparing LCC and LCA Findings
4. Discussion and Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Seo, S.; Passer, A.; Hajek, P.; Lützkendorf, T.; Mistretta, M.; Houlihan Wiberg, A. Evaluation of Embodied Energy and CO2eq for Building Construction (Annex 57). Available online: www.annex57.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Summary-Report.pdf (accessed on 4 August 2018).
- UNEP DTIE Sustainable Consumption & Production Branch. Buildings and Climate Change (Summary for Decision Makers); United Nations Environment Programme: Nairobi, Kenya, 2009. [Google Scholar]
- Passer, A.; Ouellet-Plamondon, C.; Kenneally, P.; John, V.; Habert, G. The impact of future scenarios on building refurbishment strategies towards plus energy buildings. Energy Build. 2016, 124, 153–163. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kylili, A.; Fokaides, P.A. Policy trends for the sustainability assessment of construction materials: A review. Sustain. Cities Soc. 2017, 35, 280–288. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Directive (EU) 2018/844 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 Amending Directive 2010/31/EU on the Energy Performance of Buildings and Directive 2012/27/EU on Energy Efficiency. Available online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2018.156.01.0075.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2018:156:FULL (accessed on 4 August 2018).
- Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 2010 on the Energy Performance of Buildings. Available online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:153:0013:0035:EN:PDF (accessed on 4 August 2018).
- Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on Energy Efficiency, Amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and Repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC. Available online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32012L0027 (accessed on 4 August 2018).
- Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 Establishing a Framework for the Setting of Ecodesign Requirements for Energy-Related Products. Available online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32009L0125 (accessed on 4 August 2018).
- European Commission (2017)—Level(s)—A Common EU Framework of Core Sustainability Indicators for Office and Residential Buildings. Available online: http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Efficient_Buildings/docs/170816_Levels_EU_framework_of_building_indicators_Parts.pdf (accessed on 4 August 2018).
- Birgisdottir, H.; Moncaster, A.; HoulihanWiberg, A.; Chae, C.; Yokoyama, K.; Balouktsi, M.; Seo, S.; Oka, T.; Lützkendorf, T.; Malmqvist, T. IEA EBC Annex 57 ‘Evaluation of Embodied Energy and CO2eq for Building Construction’. Energy Build. 2017, 154, 72–80. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Blengini, G.A.; Di Carlo, T. Energy-saving policies and low-energy residential buildings: An LCA case study to support decision makers in Piedmont (Italy). Int. J. Life Cycle Assess. 2010, 15, 652–665. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Karami, P.; Al-Ayish, N.; Gudmundsson, K. A comparative study of the environmental impact of Swedish residential buildings with vacuum insulation panels. Energy Build. 2015, 109, 183–194. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- International Energy Agency. Meeting Climate Change Goals through Energy Efficiency. Energy Efficiency Insights Brief. Available online: https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/MeetingClimateChangeGoalsEnergyEfficiencyInsightsBrief.pdf (accessed on 16 July 2018).
- Mateus, R.; Monteiro Silva, S.; Guedes de Almeida, M. Environmental and Cost Life Cycle Analysis of the Impact of Using Solar Systems in Energy Renovation of Southern European Single-Family Buildings. Renewable Energy. Available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2018.04.036 (accessed on 12 April 2018).
- Manfredi, S.; Allacker, K.; Chomkhamsri, K.; Pelletier, N.; Maia de Souza, D. Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) Guide; European Commission, Joint Research Centre: Ispra, Italy, 2012. [Google Scholar]
- PEF4Buildings. Available online: http://www.energyville.be/en/project/pef4buildings-application-product-environmental-footprint-pef-method-newly-built-office (accessed on 15 July 2018).
- Littell, J.H.; Corcoran, J.; Pillai, V. Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis; Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK, 2008. [Google Scholar]
- Wohlin, C. Guidelines for snowballing in systematic literature studies and a replication in software engineering. In Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Evaluation and Assessment in Software Engineering—EASE ’14 1–10, New York, NY, USA, 13–14 May 2014. [Google Scholar]
- Cabeza, L.F.; Rincón, L.; Vilariño, V.; Pérez, G.; Castell, A. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle energy analysis (LCEA) of buildings and the building sector: A review. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2013, 29, 394–416. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Vilches, A.; Garcia-Martinez, A.; Sanchez-Montañes, B. Life cycle assessment (LCA) of building refurbishment: A literature review. Energy Build. 2017, 135, 286–301. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bastos, J.; Batterman, S.A.; Freire, F. Life-cycle energy and greenhouse gas analysis of three building types in a residential area in Lisbon. Energy Build. 2014, 69, 344–353. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Rodrigues, C.; Freire, F. Integrated life-cycle assessment and thermal dynamic simulation of alternative scenarios for the roof retrofit of a house. Build. Environ. 2014, 81, 204–215. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Allacker, K. Sustainable Building—The Development of an Evaluation Method. Ph.D. Dissertation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, 2010. [Google Scholar]
- Allacker, K. Environmental and economic optimisation of the floor on grade in residential buildings. Int. J. Life Cycle Assess. 2012, 17, 813–827. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Liu, L.; Rohdin, P.; Moshfegh, B. LCC assessments and environmental impacts on the energy renovation of a multi-family building from the 1890s. Energy Build. 2016, 133, 823–833. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pombo, O.; Allacker, K.; Rivela, B.; Neila, J. Sustainability assessment of energy saving measures: A multi-criteria approach for residential buildings retrofitting? A case study of the Spanish housing stock. Energy Build. 2016, 116, 384–394. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Blengini, G.A.; Di Carlo, T. The changing role of life cycle phases, subsystems and materials in the LCA of low energy buildings. Energy Build. 2010, 42, 869–880. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Audenaert, A.; De Cleyn, S.H.; Buyle, M. LCA of low-energy flats using the Eco-indicator 99 method: Impact of insulation materials. Energy Build. 2012, 47, 68–73. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mosteiro-Romero, M.; Krogmann, U.; Wallbaum, H.; Ostermeyer, Y.; Senick, J.S.; Andrews, C.J. Relative importance of electricity sources and construction practices in residential buildings: A Swiss-US comparison of energy related life-cycle impacts. Energy Build. 2014, 68, 620–631. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Takano, A.; Hughes, M.; Winter, S. A multidisciplinary approach to sustainable building material selection: A case study in a Finnish context. Build. Environ. 2014, 82, 526–535. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Weiler, V.; Harter, H.; Eicker, U. Life cycle assessment of buildings and city quarters comparing demolition and reconstruction with refurbishment. Energy Build. 2017, 134, 319–328. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Himpe, E.; Trappers, L.; Debacker, W.; Delghust, M.; Laverge, J.; Janssens, A.; Moens, J.; Van Holm, M. Life cycle energy analysis of a zero-energy house. Build. Res. Inf. 2013, 41, 435–449. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Desideri, U.; Arcioni, L.; Leonardi, D.; Cesaretti, L.; Perugini, P.; Agabitini, E.; Evangelisti, N. Design of a multipurpose “zero energy consumption” building according to European Directive 2010/31/EU: Life cycle assessment. Energy Build. 2014, 80, 585–597. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Goggins, J.; Moran, P.; Armstrong, A.; Hajdukiewicz, M. Lifecycle environmental and economic performance of nearly zero energy buildings (NZEB) in Ireland. Energy Build. 2016, 116, 622–637. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gustafsson, M.; Dipasquale, C.; Poppi, S.; Bellini, A.; Fedrizzi, R.; Bales, C.; Ochs, F.; Sié, M.; Holmberg, S. Economic and environmental analysis of energy renovation packages for European office buildings. Energy Build. 2017, 148, 155–165. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Passer, A.; Fischer, G.F.; Sölkner, P.J.; Spaun, S. Innovative building technologies and technical equipment towards sustainable construction—A comparative LCA and LCC assessment. In Proceedings of the Sustainable Built Environment Conference in Hamburg Strategies, Stakeholders, Success Factors, Hamburg, Germany, 7–11 March 2016. [Google Scholar]
- Passer, A.; Kreiner, H.; Maydl, P. Assessment of the environmental performance of buildings: A critical evaluation of the influence of technical building equipment on residential buildings. Int. J. Life Cycle Assess. 2012, 17, 1116–1130. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ardente, F.; Beccali, M.; Cellura, M.; Mistretta, M. Energy and environmental benefits in public buildings as a result of retrofit actions. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2011, 15, 460–470. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Asdrubali, F.; Baldassarri, C.; Fthenakis, V. Life cycle analysis in the construction sector: Guiding the optimization of conventional Italian buildings. Energy Build. 2013, 64, 73–89. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Beccali, M.; Cellura, M.; Fontana, M.; Longo, S.; Mistretta, M. Energy retrofit of a single-family house: Life cycle net energy saving and environmental benefits. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2013, 27, 283–293. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Assiego De Larriva, R.; Calleja Rodríguez, G.; Cejudo López, J.M.; Raugei, M.; Fullana, I.; Palmer, P. A decision-making LCA for energy refurbishment of buildings: Conditions of comfort. Energy Build. 2014, 70, 333–342. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Fay, R.; Treloar, G.; Iyer-Raniga, U. Life-cycle energy analysis of buildings: A case study. Build. Res. Inf. 2000, 28, 31–41. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cuéllar-Franca, R.M.; Azapagic, A. Life cycle cost analysis of the UK housing stock. Int. J. Life Cycle Assess. 2014, 19, 174–193. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Neroutsou, T.I.; Croxford, B. Lifecycle costing of low energy housing refurbishment: A case study of a 7 year retrofit in Chester Road, London. Energy Build. 2016, 128, 178–189. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Rodrigues, C.; Freire, F. Environmental impact trade-offs in building envelope retrofit strategies. Int. J. Life Cycle Assess. 2017, 22, 557–570. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Passer, A.; Kreiner, H. The application of LCA calculation methods in building certification systems in Austria. In Proceedings of the World Sustainable Building Conference, Barcelona, Spain, 28–30 October 2014; Green Building Council Espana: Madrid, Spain, 2014. ISBN 978-84-697-1815-5. [Google Scholar]
- EeBGuide Project—Operational Guidance for Life Cycle Assessment Studies of the Energy Efficient Buildings Initiative. Available online: https://www.eebguide.eu (accessed on 15 July 2018).
- International Energy Agency, Energy in Buildings and Communities Programme, Annex 72 Project: IEA EBC Annex 72—Assessing Life Cycle Related Environmental Impacts Caused by Buildings. Available online: http://annex72.iea-ebc.org (accessed on 16 July 2018).
- Rockstrom, J.; Steffen, W.; Noone, K.; Persson, A.; Stuart Chapin, F., III; Lambin, E.F.; Lenton, T.M.; Scheffer, M.; Folke, C.; Schellnhuber, H.J.; et al. A safe operating space for humanity. Nature 2009, 461, 472–475. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Kara, S.; Hauschild, M.Z.; Herrmann, C. Target-Driven Life Cycle Engineering: Staying within the Planetary Boundaries. Procedia CIRP 2018, 69, 3–10. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Analysis Criteria | SC | RQ1 | RQ2 | RQ3 | RQ4 | RQ5 | RQ6 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Building information | x | ||||||
Qualitative or quantitative study | x | ||||||
Efficiency strategy proposed (i.e., insulation, automation, etc.) | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
Description of the strategy | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
Building typology | x | x | |||||
New construction or refurbishment | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
Energy performance | x | x | x | x | |||
Building parts included | x | x | |||||
Gross floor area [m2] | x | ||||||
Net floor area [m2] | x | ||||||
Reference area for EE/EC [m2] | x | ||||||
Final operational energy demand [kWh/m2a] | x | x | x | x | |||
Final energy demand for electricity, cooling and hot water [kWh/m2a] | x | x | x | x | |||
LCA modelling | |||||||
Reference study period | x | ||||||
System boundaries | x | x | x | x | |||
Database for LCA | x | ||||||
Assumptions for LCA | x | ||||||
Additional comments for LCA | x | ||||||
Insulation materials | x | x | x | x | |||
LCA software | x | ||||||
Indicators assessed | x | x | |||||
Environmental impacts and/or performances covered (according to EN 15978, 15 Modules A to D) | |||||||
Climate change | x | x | |||||
Primary Energy | x | x | x | x | x | ||
Abiotic Depletion Potential | x | x | |||||
Hazardous waste generation | x | x | |||||
Single environmental score | x | x | |||||
Contribution Analysis | |||||||
LC stage contribution to the total load (for 15 modules) | x | ||||||
Insulation contribution over the total load (for 15 modules) | x | ||||||
Insulation vs. Energy savings | x | x | x | ||||
Renewable Energy contribution over the total load (for 15 modules) | x | ||||||
Renewable Energy, tipping point | x | x | |||||
Financial costs | x | x |
© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
MIRABELLA, N.; RÖCK, M.; Ruschi Mendes SAADE, M.; SPIRINCKX, C.; BOSMANS, M.; ALLACKER, K.; PASSER, A. Strategies to Improve the Energy Performance of Buildings: A Review of Their Life Cycle Impact. Buildings 2018, 8, 105. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings8080105
MIRABELLA N, RÖCK M, Ruschi Mendes SAADE M, SPIRINCKX C, BOSMANS M, ALLACKER K, PASSER A. Strategies to Improve the Energy Performance of Buildings: A Review of Their Life Cycle Impact. Buildings. 2018; 8(8):105. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings8080105
Chicago/Turabian StyleMIRABELLA, Nadia, Martin RÖCK, Marcella Ruschi Mendes SAADE, Carolin SPIRINCKX, Marc BOSMANS, Karen ALLACKER, and Alexander PASSER. 2018. "Strategies to Improve the Energy Performance of Buildings: A Review of Their Life Cycle Impact" Buildings 8, no. 8: 105. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings8080105