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Optimal Planning of Sustainable Buildings: Integration of Life Cycle Assessment and Optimization in a Decision Support System (DSS)

Author

Listed:
  • Fabio Magrassi

    (Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 15, Genova 16145, Italy)

  • Adriana Del Borghi

    (Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 15, Genova 16145, Italy)

  • Michela Gallo

    (Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 15, Genova 16145, Italy)

  • Carlo Strazza

    (D’Appolonia S.p.A., Environment and Sustainability Business Unit, Via Liri 8A, Genova 16145, Italy)

  • Michela Robba

    (Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 13, Genova 16145, Italy)

Abstract

Energy efficiency measures in buildings can provide for a significant reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A sustainable design and planning of technologies for energy production should be based on economic and environmental criteria. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to quantify the environmental impacts over the whole cycle of life of production plants. Optimization models can support decisions that minimize costs and negative impacts. In this work, a multi-objective decision problem is formalized that takes into account LCA calculations and that minimizes costs and GHG emissions for general buildings. A decision support system (DSS) is applied to a real case study in the Northern Italy, highlighting the advantage provided by the installation of renewable energy. Moreover, a comparison among different optimal and non optimal solution was carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed DSS.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabio Magrassi & Adriana Del Borghi & Michela Gallo & Carlo Strazza & Michela Robba, 2016. "Optimal Planning of Sustainable Buildings: Integration of Life Cycle Assessment and Optimization in a Decision Support System (DSS)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:9:y:2016:i:7:p:490-:d:72723
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    14. Geng, Shengnan & Wang, Yuan & Zuo, Jian & Zhou, Zhihua & Du, Huibin & Mao, Guozhu, 2017. "Building life cycle assessment research: A review by bibliometric analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 176-184.
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    16. Adriana Del Borghi & Thomas Spiegelhalter & Luca Moreschi & Michela Gallo, 2021. "Carbon-Neutral-Campus Building: Design Versus Retrofitting of Two University Zero Energy Buildings in Europe and in the United States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.
    17. Filippos Lygerakis & Nikos Kampelis & Dionysia Kolokotsa, 2022. "Knowledge Graphs’ Ontologies and Applications for Energy Efficiency in Buildings: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-32, October.
    18. Luca Moreschi & Adriana Del Borghi & Angela Celeste Taramasso & Michela Gallo, 2020. "Waste Management under Emergency Conditions: Life-Cycle Multicriteria Analysis as Decision Support System," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-16, July.

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