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. 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).
    2. 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).
    3. 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).
    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. Excell, Lauren E. & Jain, Rishee K., 2024. "Examining the impact of energy efficiency retrofits and vegetation on energy performance of institutional buildings: An equity-driven analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    2. Zongyue He & Yanhong Zhang & Xiqian Wang, 2024. "Has the Development of Broadband Infrastructure Improved Household Energy Consumption in Rural China?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-21, October.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Marin Pellan & Denise Almeida & Mathilde Louërat & Guillaume Habert, 2024. "Integrating Consumption-Based Metrics into Sectoral Carbon Budgets to Enhance Sustainability Monitoring of Building Activities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-25, August.
    6. Ciprian Cristea & Maria Cristea & Dan Doru Micu & Andrei Ceclan & Radu-Adrian Tîrnovan & Florica Mioara Șerban, 2022. "Tridimensional Sustainability and Feasibility Assessment of Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems Applied for the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-23, August.
    7. 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).
    8. Francesco Montana & Kai Kanafani & Kim B. Wittchen & Harpa Birgisdottir & Sonia Longo & Maurizio Cellura & Eleonora Riva Sanseverino, 2020. "Multi-Objective Optimization of Building Life Cycle Performance. A Housing Renovation Case Study in Northern Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-25, September.
    9. Gonçalves, Juliana E. & Montazeri, Hamid & van Hooff, Twan & Saelens, Dirk, 2021. "Performance of building integrated photovoltaic facades: Impact of exterior convective heat transfer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    10. Zheng, Ye & Tarczyński, Waldemar & Jamróz, Paweł & Ali Raza, Syed & Tiwari, Sunil, 2024. "Impacts of mineral resources, economic growth and energy consumption on environmental sustainability: Novel findings from global south region," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    11. Hind Alofaysan, 2024. "Discovering the E-Government and COVID-19 Effect on Sustainable Development: Novel Findings from the China Provinces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-15, June.
    12. Marco Scherz & Antonija Ana Wieser & Alexander Passer & Helmuth Kreiner, 2022. "Implementation of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in the Procurement Process of Buildings: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-22, December.
    13. Geng, Yini & Fan, Aijun, 2023. "How trade diversification affects resources sustainability in China: Exploring the role of institutional quality and environmental policies uncertainty," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    14. Haonan Zhang, 2023. "Leveraging policy instruments and financial incentives to reduce embodied carbon in energy retrofits," Papers 2304.03403, arXiv.org.
    15. 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.
    16. Carlos Herce & Chiara Martini & Claudia Toro & Enrico Biele & Marcello Salvio, 2024. "Energy Efficiency Policies for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-34, January.
    17. Xin, Baogui & Zhang, Tengda & Santibanez-Gonzalez, Ernesto D.R., 2024. "Synergistic effects of regional environmental governance on alleviating energy poverty and promoting household decarbonization," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    18. 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.
    19. 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.
    20. 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.

    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.