IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2023i15p5639-d1203385.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

On the Potential of District-Scale Life Cycle Assessments of Buildings

Author

Listed:
  • Maximilian Schildt

    (Institute of Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Building E3D, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
    Current address: Mathieustrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Johannes Linus Cuypers

    (Institute of Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Building E3D, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Maxim Shamovich

    (Institute of Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Building E3D, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Sonja Tamara Herzogenrath

    (Institute of Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Building E3D, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Avichal Malhotra

    (Institute of Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Building E3D, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Christoph Alban van Treeck

    (Institute of Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Building E3D, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Jérôme Frisch

    (Institute of Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Building E3D, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Climate neutrality goals in the building sector require a large-scale estimation of environmental impacts for various stakeholders. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a viable method for this purpose. However, its high granularity, and subsequent data requirements and effort, hinder its propagation, and potential employment of Machine Learning (ML) applications on a larger scale. The presented paper outlines the current state of research and practice on district-scale building LCA in terms of standards, software and certifications, and data availability. For this matter, the authors present the development and application of two district-scale LCA tools, Teco and DisteLCA, to determine the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of three different residential districts. Both tools employ data based on (including, but not limited to) CityGML, TABULA, and ÖKOBAUDAT. The results indicate that DisteLCA’s granular approach leads to an overestimation of environmental impacts, which can be derived from the statistical approach to operational energy use and related emissions. While both tools lead to substantial time savings, Teco requires less manual effort. The linkage of the aforementioned data sources has proven laborious and could be alleviated with a common data framework. Furthermore, large-scale data analysis could substantially increase the viability of the presented approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Maximilian Schildt & Johannes Linus Cuypers & Maxim Shamovich & Sonja Tamara Herzogenrath & Avichal Malhotra & Christoph Alban van Treeck & Jérôme Frisch, 2023. "On the Potential of District-Scale Life Cycle Assessments of Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-33, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:15:p:5639-:d:1203385
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/15/5639/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/15/5639/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ballarini, Ilaria & Corgnati, Stefano Paolo & Corrado, Vincenzo, 2014. "Use of reference buildings to assess the energy saving potentials of the residential building stock: The experience of TABULA project," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 273-284.
    2. Mastrucci, Alessio & Marvuglia, Antonino & Benetto, Enrico & Leopold, Ulrich, 2020. "A spatio-temporal life cycle assessment framework for building renovation scenarios at the urban scale," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    3. Lucas Rosse Caldas & Maykon Vieira Silva & Vítor Pereira Silva & Michele Tereza Marques Carvalho & Romildo Dias Toledo Filho, 2022. "How Different Tools Contribute to Climate Change Mitigation in a Circular Building Environment?—A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-24, March.
    4. Patricia Schneider-Marin & Hannes Harter & Konstantin Tkachuk & Werner Lang, 2020. "Uncertainty Analysis of Embedded Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Using BIM in Early Design Stages," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, March.
    5. Heidenthaler, Daniel & Deng, Yingwen & Leeb, Markus & Grobbauer, Michael & Kranzl, Lukas & Seiwald, Lena & Mascherbauer, Philipp & Reindl, Patricia & Bednar, Thomas, 2023. "Automated energy performance certificate based urban building energy modelling approach for predicting heat load profiles of districts," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PB).
    6. Mastrucci, Alessio & Marvuglia, Antonino & Leopold, Ulrich & Benetto, Enrico, 2017. "Life Cycle Assessment of building stocks from urban to transnational scales: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 316-332.
    7. 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.
    8. Pedro, Joana & Silva, Carlos & Pinheiro, Manuel Duarte, 2019. "Integrating GIS spatial dimension into BREEAM communities sustainability assessment to support urban planning policies, Lisbon case study," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 424-434.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bischof, Julian & Duffy, Aidan, 2022. "Life-cycle assessment of non-domestic building stocks: A meta-analysis of current modelling methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    2. Langevin, J. & Reyna, J.L. & Ebrahimigharehbaghi, S. & Sandberg, N. & Fennell, P. & Nägeli, C. & Laverge, J. & Delghust, M. & Mata, É. & Van Hove, M. & Webster, J. & Federico, F. & Jakob, M. & Camaras, 2020. "Developing a common approach for classifying building stock energy models," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    3. Röck, Martin & Baldereschi, Elena & Verellen, Evelien & Passer, Alexander & Sala, Serenella & Allacker, Karen, 2021. "Environmental modelling of building stocks – An integrated review of life cycle-based assessment models to support EU policy making," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    4. Yang, Xining & Hu, Mingming & Heeren, Niko & Zhang, Chunbo & Verhagen, Teun & Tukker, Arnold & Steubing, Bernhard, 2020. "A combined GIS-archetype approach to model residential space heating energy: A case study for the Netherlands including validation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    5. Zoe Mayer & Julia Heuer & Rebekka Volk & Frank Schultmann, 2021. "Aerial Thermographic Image-Based Assessment of Thermal Bridges Using Representative Classifications and Calculations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-43, November.
    6. Yu Cao & Cong Xu & Syahrul Nizam Kamaruzzaman & Nur Mardhiyah Aziz, 2022. "A Systematic Review of Green Building Development in China: Advantages, Challenges and Future Directions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-29, September.
    7. Solène Goy & François Maréchal & Donal Finn, 2020. "Data for Urban Scale Building Energy Modelling: Assessing Impacts and Overcoming Availability Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-23, August.
    8. Patricia González-Vallejo & Radu Muntean & Jaime Solís-Guzmán & Madelyn Marrero, 2020. "Carbon Footprint of Dwelling Construction in Romania and Spain. A Comparative Analysis with the OERCO2 Tool," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-22, August.
    9. Hanan S.S. Ibrahim & Ahmed Z. Khan & Shady Attia & Yehya Serag, 2021. "Classification of Heritage Residential Building Stock and Defining Sustainable Retrofitting Scenarios in Khedivial Cairo," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-26, January.
    10. Shengyuan Guo & Wanjiang Wang & Yihuan Zhou, 2022. "Research on Energy Saving and Economy of Old Buildings Based on Parametric Design: A Case Study of a Hospital in Linyi City, Shandong Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-20, December.
    11. Gholami, M. & Barbaresi, A. & Torreggiani, D. & Tassinari, P., 2020. "Upscaling of spatial energy planning, phases, methods, and techniques: A systematic review through meta-analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    12. Brandão de Vasconcelos, Ana & Pinheiro, Manuel Duarte & Manso, Armando & Cabaço, António, 2015. "A Portuguese approach to define reference buildings for cost-optimal methodologies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 316-328.
    13. Laura Canale & Marianna De Monaco & Biagio Di Pietra & Giovanni Puglisi & Giorgio Ficco & Ilaria Bertini & Marco Dell’Isola, 2021. "Estimating the Smart Readiness Indicator in the Italian Residential Building Stock in Different Scenarios," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-19, October.
    14. Bienvenido-Huertas, David & Moyano, Juan & Rodríguez-Jiménez, Carlos E. & Marín, David, 2019. "Applying an artificial neural network to assess thermal transmittance in walls by means of the thermometric method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 1-14.
    15. Yahong Dong & Md. Uzzal Hossain & Hongyang Li & Peng Liu, 2021. "Developing Conversion Factors of LCIA Methods for Comparison of LCA Results in the Construction Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.
    16. Koasidis, Konstantinos & Marinakis, Vangelis & Nikas, Alexandros & Chira, Katerina & Flamos, Alexandros & Doukas, Haris, 2022. "Monetising behavioural change as a policy measure to support energy management in the residential sector: A case study in Greece," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    17. Zaffar Ahmed Shaikh & Polina Datsyuk & Laura M. Baitenova & Larisa Belinskaja & Natalia Ivolgina & Gulmira Rysmakhanova & Tomonobu Senjyu, 2022. "Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Renewable Energy Firm’s Profitability and Capitalization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-15, June.
    18. Seungjun Roh & Sungho Tae & Rakhyun Kim, 2018. "Analysis of Embodied Environmental Impacts of Korean Apartment Buildings Considering Major Building Materials," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-17, May.
    19. Fahlstedt, Oskar & Temeljotov-Salaj, Alenka & Lohne, Jardar & Bohne, Rolf André, 2022. "Holistic assessment of carbon abatement strategies in building refurbishment literature — A scoping review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    20. Martin Eriksson & Jan Akander & Bahram Moshfegh, 2022. "Investigating Energy Use in a City District in Nordic Climate Using Energy Signature," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-22, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:15:p:5639-:d:1203385. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.