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Development of a methodology for life cycle building energy ratings

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  • Hernandez, Patxi
  • Kenny, Paul

Abstract

Traditionally the majority of building energy use has been linked to its operation (heating, cooling, lighting, etc.), and much attention has been directed to reduce this energy use through technical innovation, regulatory control and assessed through a wide range of rating methods. However buildings generally employ an increasing amount of materials and systems to reduce the energy use in operation, and energy embodied in these can constitute an important part of the building's life cycle energy use. For buildings with 'zero-energy' use in operation the embodied energy is indeed the only life cycle energy use. This is not addressed by current building energy assessment and rating methods. This paper proposes a methodology to extend building energy assessment and rating methods accounting for embodied energy of building components and systems. The methodology is applied to the EU Building Energy Rating method and, as an illustration, as implemented in Irish domestic buildings. A case study dwelling is used to illustrate the importance of embodied energy on life cycle energy performance, particularly relevant when energy use in operation tends to zero. The use of the Net Energy Ratio as an indicator to select appropriate building improvement measures is also presented and discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Hernandez, Patxi & Kenny, Paul, 2011. "Development of a methodology for life cycle building energy ratings," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 3779-3788, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:39:y:2011:i:6:p:3779-3788
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    2. Robert Dylewski & Janusz Adamczyk, 2021. "Optimum Thickness of Thermal Insulation with Both Economic and Ecological Costs of Heating and Cooling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-17, June.
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    4. Melo, A.P. & Cóstola, D. & Lamberts, R. & Hensen, J.L.M., 2014. "Development of surrogate models using artificial neural network for building shell energy labelling," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 457-466.
    5. Venkatraj, V. & Dixit, M.K., 2021. "Life cycle embodied energy analysis of higher education buildings: A comparison between different LCI methodologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    6. Theodoridou, Ifigeneia & Karteris, Marinos & Mallinis, Georgios & Papadopoulos, Agis M. & Hegger, Manfred, 2012. "Assessment of retrofitting measures and solar systems' potential in urban areas using Geographical Information Systems: Application to a Mediterranean city," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 6239-6261.
    7. Ming-Lun Alan Fong, 2021. "Sustainable Ventilation Strategies for a Medium-Sized Space with Regional Effect," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-18, April.

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