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Effect of Embodied Energy on Cost-Effectiveness of a Prefabricated Modular Solution on Renovation Scenarios in Social Housing in Porto, Portugal

Author

Listed:
  • Manuela Almeida

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal)

  • Ricardo Barbosa

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal)

  • Raphaele Malheiro

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal)

Abstract

A large-scale energy renovation intervention in existing buildings has been consistently presented as the most significant opportunity to contribute to achieving the European targets for 2030 and 2050. One of the key points for such achievement is the cost-effectiveness of the interventions proposed, which is also closely related to decent housing affordability. Prefabricated modular solutions have been pointed out as a pathway, but there are knowledge gaps regarding both its cost-effectiveness and its environmental performance. Considering a social housing multi-family building in Porto, Portugal, as a case study, this research employs energy simulations, a cost-optimal methodology and a life cycle analysis approach to assess the influence of considering embodied energy and emissions in cost-effectiveness calculations. In general terms, the hierarchical relation between calculated renovation scenarios remain identical, as well as the choice of the cost-optimal combination, which can reduce primary energy needs by 226 kWh/(y.m 2 ). However, embodied carbon emissions and embodied energy of the materials used in the calculations, which are indicative of the sustainability of such interventions, increase the energy and carbon emissions associated to each renovation package by an average of 43 kWh/(y.m 2 ) and 9.3 kgCO 2eq /(y.m 2 ), respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Manuela Almeida & Ricardo Barbosa & Raphaele Malheiro, 2020. "Effect of Embodied Energy on Cost-Effectiveness of a Prefabricated Modular Solution on Renovation Scenarios in Social Housing in Porto, Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:4:p:1631-:d:323541
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Copiello, Sergio, 2015. "Achieving affordable housing through energy efficiency strategy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 288-298.
    2. Pérez-Fargallo, Alexis & Rubio-Bellido, Carlos & Pulido-Arcas, Jesús A. & Javier Guevara-García, Fco., 2018. "Fuel Poverty Potential Risk Index in the context of climate change in Chile," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 157-170.
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    1. Rui Oliveira & Ricardo M.S.F. Almeida & António Figueiredo & Romeu Vicente, 2021. "A Case Study on a Stochastic-Based Optimisation Approach towards the Integration of Photovoltaic Panels in Multi-Residential Social Housing," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Cylon Liaw & Vitória Elisa da Silva & Rebecca Maduro & Milena Megrè & Julio Cesar de Souza Inácio Gonçalves & Edmilson Moutinho dos Santos & Dominique Mouette, 2023. "Thermal Comfort Analysis Using System Dynamics Modeling—A Sustainable Scenario Proposition for Low-Income Housing in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Darija Gajić & Slobodan Peulić & Tim Mavrič & Anna Sandak & Črtomir Tavzes & Milica Malešević & Mladen Slijepčević, 2021. "Energy Retrofitting Opportunities Using Renewable Materials—Comparative Analysis of the Current Frameworks in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.

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