IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i5p2001-d1348062.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Parametric Integrated Design Approach for Life Cycle Zero-Carbon Buildings

Author

Listed:
  • Ehsan Kamel

    (Department of Energy Management, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA)

  • Francesco Pittau

    (Department of Architecture Built Environment and Construction Engineering (ABC), Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 31, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Laura Mora Dal Verme

    (Department of Energy Management, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA
    School of Architecture Urban Planning and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ampere 2, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Piergiorgio Scatigna

    (Department of Energy Management, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA
    School of Architecture Urban Planning and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ampere 2, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Giuliana Iannaccone

    (Department of Architecture Built Environment and Construction Engineering (ABC), Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 31, 20133 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

Implementing net-zero carbon design is a crucial step towards decarbonizing the built environment during the entire life cycle of a building, encompassing both embodied and operational carbon. This paper presents a novel computational approach to designing life cycle zero-carbon buildings (LC-ZCBs), utilizing parametric integrated modeling through the versatile Grasshopper platform. A residential building located at the New York Institute of Technology, optimized to fulfill the LC-ZCB target, serves as a case study for this comprehensive study. Four main influencing design parameters are defined, and three hundred design combinations are evaluated through the assessment of operational carbon (OC) and embodied carbon (EC). By incorporating biobased materials in the design options (BIO) as a replacement for conventional insulation (OPT), the influence of biogenic carbon is addressed by utilizing the GWPbio dynamic method. While both OPT and BIO registered similar OC, with values ranging below 0.7 kg CO 2 eq/m 2 a, the EC is largely different, with negative values ranging between −0.64 and −0.54 kg CO 2 eq/m 2 a only for BIO alternatives, while the OPT ones achieved positive values (2.25–2.45 kg CO 2 eq/m 2 a). Finally, to account for potential climate changes, future climate data, and 2099 weather conditions are considered during the scenario assessments. The results show that OC tends to slightly decrease due to the increasing productivity of PV panels. Thus, the life cycle emissions for all OPT alternatives decrease, moving from 2.4–3.0 kg CO 2 eq/m 2 a to 2.2–2.4, but none of them achieve the LC-ZCB target, while BIO alternatives are able to achieve the target with negative values between −0.15 and −0.60 kg CO 2 eq/m 2 a. There is potential for achieving LC-ZCBs when fast-growing biobased materials are largely used as construction materials, fostering a more environmentally responsible future for the construction industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Ehsan Kamel & Francesco Pittau & Laura Mora Dal Verme & Piergiorgio Scatigna & Giuliana Iannaccone, 2024. "A Parametric Integrated Design Approach for Life Cycle Zero-Carbon Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-22, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:5:p:2001-:d:1348062
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/5/2001/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/5/2001/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stephan, André & Stephan, Laurent, 2020. "Achieving net zero life cycle primary energy and greenhouse gas emissions apartment buildings in a Mediterranean climate," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    2. Tiwari, Sunil & Si Mohammed, Kamel & Guesmi, Khaled, 2023. "A way forward to end energy poverty in China: Role of carbon-cutting targets and net-zero commitments," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    3. Röck, Martin & Saade, Marcella Ruschi Mendes & Balouktsi, Maria & Rasmussen, Freja Nygaard & Birgisdottir, Harpa & Frischknecht, Rolf & Habert, Guillaume & Lützkendorf, Thomas & Passer, Alexander, 2020. "Embodied GHG emissions of buildings – The hidden challenge for effective climate change mitigation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    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. Jacek Michalak & Bartosz Michałowski, 2022. "Understanding Sustainability of Construction Products: Answers from Investors, Contractors, and Sellers of Building Materials," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Maria Cristina Collivignarelli & Giacomo Cillari & Paola Ricciardi & Marco Carnevale Miino & Vincenzo Torretta & Elena Cristina Rada & Alessandro Abbà, 2020. "The Production of Sustainable Concrete with the Use of Alternative Aggregates: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-34, September.
    3. 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).
    4. Haonan Zhang, 2023. "Leveraging policy instruments and financial incentives to reduce embodied carbon in energy retrofits," Papers 2304.03403, arXiv.org.
    5. Lachlan Curmi & Kumudu Kaushalya Weththasinghe & Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman Tariq, 2022. "Global Policy Review on Embodied Flows: Recommendations for Australian Construction Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, November.
    6. Maximilian Weigert & Oleksandr Melnyk & Leopold Winkler & Jacqueline Raab, 2022. "Carbon Emissions of Construction Processes on Urban Construction Sites," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-14, October.
    7. Geeth Jayathilaka & Niraj Thurairajah & Akila Rathnasinghe, 2023. "Digital Data Management Practices for Effective Embodied Carbon Estimation: A Systematic Evaluation of Barriers for Adoption in the Building Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-23, December.
    8. Claudio Zandonella Callegher & Gianluca Grazieschi & Eric Wilczynski & Ulrich Filippi Oberegger & Simon Pezzutto, 2023. "Assessment of Building Materials in the European Residential Building Stock: An Analysis at EU27 Level," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-19, May.
    9. Mottaghizadeh, Pegah & Jabbari, Faryar & Brouwer, Jack, 2022. "Integrated solid oxide fuel cell, solar PV, and battery storage system to achieve zero net energy residential nanogrid in California," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    10. Ahmadi, Mohammad Mahdi & Keyhani, Alireza & Rosen, Marc A. & Lam, Su Shiung & Pan, Junting & Tabatabaei, Meisam & Aghbashlo, Mortaza, 2022. "Towards sustainable net-zero districts using the extended exergy accounting concept," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 747-764.
    11. Rosaria E.C. Amaral & Joel Brito & Matt Buckman & Elicia Drake & Esther Ilatova & Paige Rice & Carlos Sabbagh & Sergei Voronkin & Yewande S. Abraham, 2020. "Waste Management and Operational Energy for Sustainable Buildings: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-21, July.
    12. Qiyuan Li & Wei Yang & Niklaus Kohler & Lu Yang & Jie Li & Zhen Sun & Hanze Yu & Lu Liu & Jun Ren, 2023. "A BIM–LCA Approach for the Whole Design Process of Green Buildings in the Chinese Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-32, February.
    13. Antonín Lupíšek & Tomáš Trubačík & Petr Holub, 2021. "Czech Building Stock: Renovation Wave Scenarios and Potential for CO 2 Savings until 2050," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-24, April.
    14. Nick Van Loy & Griet Verbeeck & Elke Knapen, 2021. "Personal Heating in Dwellings as an Innovative, Energy-Sufficient Heating Practice: A Case Study Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-27, June.
    15. Francesco Asdrubali & Gianluca Grazieschi & Marta Roncone & Francesca Thiebat & Corrado Carbonaro, 2023. "Sustainability of Building Materials: Embodied Energy and Embodied Carbon of Masonry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-28, February.
    16. Jane Loveday & Gregory M. Morrison & David A. Martin, 2022. "Identifying Knowledge and Process Gaps from a Systematic Literature Review of Net-Zero Definitions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-37, March.
    17. Edyta Baran & Sebastian Czernik & Mariusz Hynowski & Bartosz Michałowski & Michał Piasecki & Justyna Tomaszewska & Jacek Michalak, 2021. "Quantifying Environmental Burdens of Plasters Based on Natural vs. Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) Gypsum," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-14, April.
    18. Hiroko Nakaoka & Norimichi Suzuki & Akifumi Eguchi & Daisuke Matsuzawa & Chisato Mori, 2022. "Impact of Exposure to Indoor Air Chemicals on Health and the Progression of Building-Related Symptoms: A Case Report," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-13, November.
    19. Ahmad Taki & Anastasiya Zakharanka, 2023. "The Effect of Degradation on Cold Climate Building Energy Performance: A Comparison with Hot Climate Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-38, April.
    20. Zou, Fei & Huang, Lingyu & Ghaemi Asl, Mahdi & Delnavaz, Mohammad & Tiwari, Sunil, 2023. "Natural resources and green economic recovery in responsible investments: Role of ESG in context of Islamic sustainable investments," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PA).

    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:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:5:p:2001-:d:1348062. 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.