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Conducting Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) to Determine Carbon Payback: A Case Study of a Highly Energy-Efficient House in Rural Alaska

Author

Listed:
  • Yasmeen Hossain

    (Cross-Cultural Studies, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 505 South Chandalar Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA)

  • Tom Marsik

    (University of Alaska Fairbanks—Bristol Bay Campus, 527 Seward St, Dillingham, AK 99576, USA
    University of Alaska Fairbanks—Alaska Center for Energy and Power, 1764 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
    Cold Climate Housing Research Center, 955 Draanjik Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA)

Abstract

Buildings are responsible for a large portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. While energy efficiency features can significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions during a building’s operational stage, extra materials and processes associated with these features typically involve higher greenhouse gas emissions during the construction phase. In order to study this relationship, a case study of a highly energy-efficient house in rural Alaska was performed. For the purposes of this case study, a theoretical counterpart home was designed that has the same interior space, but insulation values close to the code minimum requirements. Using computer simulations, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed for the case study home as well as its conventional counterpart. The extra greenhouse gas emissions associated with the construction of the case study home were compared to the annual savings in greenhouse gas emissions achieved thanks to the energy efficiency features, and carbon payback was calculated. The carbon payback was calculated to be just over three years, which is only a small fraction of the life of the building. The results of this study show that despite higher greenhouse gas emissions during the construction phase, highly energy-efficient homes can play an important role in addressing climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Yasmeen Hossain & Tom Marsik, 2019. "Conducting Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) to Determine Carbon Payback: A Case Study of a Highly Energy-Efficient House in Rural Alaska," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-11, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:9:p:1732-:d:229130
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Iver Bakken Sperstad & Magnus Korpås, 2019. "Energy Storage Scheduling in Distribution Systems Considering Wind and Photovoltaic Generation Uncertainties," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-24, March.
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    1. Zhuyuan Xue & Hongbo Liu & Qinxiao Zhang & Jingxin Wang & Jilin Fan & Xia Zhou, 2019. "The Impact Assessment of Campus Buildings Based on a Life Cycle Assessment–Life Cycle Cost Integrated Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-24, December.
    2. Elaouzy, Y. & El Fadar, A., 2022. "Energy, economic and environmental benefits of integrating passive design strategies into buildings: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    3. Gabriela Kania & Klaudia Kwiecień & Mateusz Malinowski & Maciej Gliniak, 2021. "Analyses of the Life Cycles and Social Costs of CO 2 Emissions of Single-Family Residential Buildings: A Case Study in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-13, May.
    4. Helena Monteiro & Fausto Freire & John E. Fernández, 2020. "Life-Cycle Assessment of Alternative Envelope Construction for a New House in South-Western Europe: Embodied and Operational Magnitude," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    5. Zhang, Chunbo & Hu, Mingming & Laclau, Benjamin & Garnesson, Thomas & Yang, Xining & Tukker, Arnold, 2021. "Energy-carbon-investment payback analysis of prefabricated envelope-cladding system for building energy renovation: Cases in Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).

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