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Integration of Emergy Analysis with Building Information Modeling

Author

Listed:
  • Suman Paneru

    (M. E. Rinker Sr. School of Construction Management, University of Florida, P.O. Box 115703, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

  • Forough Foroutan Jahromi

    (School of Architecture, College of Design, Construction and Planning, University of Florida, P.O. Box 115702, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

  • Mohsen Hatami

    (M. E. Rinker Sr. School of Construction Management, University of Florida, P.O. Box 115703, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

  • Wilfred Roudebush

    (School of Built Environment, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA)

  • Idris Jeelani

    (M. E. Rinker Sr. School of Construction Management, University of Florida, P.O. Box 115703, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

Abstract

Traditional energy analysis in Building Information Modeling (BIM) only accounts for the energy requirements of building operations during a portion of the occupancy phase of the building’s life cycle and as such is unable to quantify the true impact of buildings on the environment. Specifically, the typical energy analysis in BIM does not account for the energy associated with resource formation, recycling, and demolition. Therefore, a comprehensive method is required to analyze the true environmental impact of buildings. Emergy analysis can offer a holistic approach to account for the environmental cost of activities involved in building construction and operation in all its life cycle phases from resource formation to demolition. As such, the integration of emergy analysis with BIM can result in the development of a holistic sustainability performance tool. Therefore, this study aimed at developing a comprehensive framework for the integration of emergy analysis with existing Building Information Modeling tools. The proposed framework was validated using a case study involving a test building element of 8’ × 8’ composite wall. The case study demonstrated the successful integration of emergy analysis with Revit ® 2021 using the inbuilt features of Revit and external tools such as MS Excel. The framework developed in this study will help in accurately determining the environmental cost of the buildings, which will help in selecting environment-friendly building materials and systems. In addition, the integration of emergy into BIM will allow a comparison of various built environment alternatives enabling designers to make sustainable decisions during the design phase.

Suggested Citation

  • Suman Paneru & Forough Foroutan Jahromi & Mohsen Hatami & Wilfred Roudebush & Idris Jeelani, 2021. "Integration of Emergy Analysis with Building Information Modeling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:14:p:7990-:d:596070
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fei Xie & Junxue Zhang & Guodong Wu & Chunxia Zhang & Hechi Wang, 2023. "The Environmental Sustainability Study of an Airport Building System Based on an Integrated LCA-Embodied Energy (Emergy)-ANN Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-19, May.
    2. V. S. K. V. Harish & Arun Kumar & Tabish Alam & Paolo Blecich, 2021. "Assessment of State-Space Building Energy System Models in Terms of Stability and Controllability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-26, October.
    3. Hechi Wang & Zerong Yan & Junxue Zhang & Hongying Wang & Zhaoyi Yan & Xinxin Chen & Xinyi He & Jianwei Ge & Qi Zhou, 2023. "A Study on Ecological Emergy and Carbon-Emissions-Coupling Sustainability of Building Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-23, August.

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