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A Multi-Objective (Energy, Economic and Environmental Performance) Life Cycle Analysis for Better Building Design

Author

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  • Jian Yao

    (Faculty of Architectural, Civil Engineering and Environment, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China)

Abstract

Design improvement is critical for achieving a low-cost and high energy-efficient building with low carbon emissions. Thus, designers need to consider many factors (such as energy, economic and environmental performance) in the early design stage. This paper presents a multi-objective analysis for better building design and compares the EDH-based design improvements (introduced by the author in a previous work, EDH means energy difference between households) with seven potential improvement measures commonly used in achieving a better overall performance for the energy, economy and environment. A typical residential building in China was modeled for a number of simulations, and the simulation results were used to carry out a life cycle-based performance analysis. Seven potential improvement options that are commonly used are compared, and the results show that it is difficult to identify an option that has a better performance in all these three aspects. On the other hand, EDH-based design improvement achieves relatively high energy, economic and environmental performance compared to the former seven options. Moreover, EDH-based design improvement can provide designers with flexible options to select from in order to address diverse demands for building aesthetics, function, and so on, or to avoid potential difficulties when some kinds of materials or measures that are planned to be used are unavailable locally.

Suggested Citation

  • Jian Yao, 2014. "A Multi-Objective (Energy, Economic and Environmental Performance) Life Cycle Analysis for Better Building Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-13, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:6:y:2014:i:2:p:602-614:d:32477
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dincer, Ibrahim & Rosen, Marc A., 1999. "Energy, environment and sustainable development," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(1-4), pages 427-440, September.
    2. Yao, Jian, 2012. "Energy optimization of building design for different housing units in apartment buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 330-337.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dixit, Manish K., 2017. "Life cycle embodied energy analysis of residential buildings: A review of literature to investigate embodied energy parameters," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 390-413.
    2. Jian Yao & Rongyue Zheng, 2019. "Uncertainty of Energy and Economic Performance of Manual Solar Shades in Hot Summer and Cold Winter Regions of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Qingsong Wang & Xueliang Yuan & Jian Zuo & Ruimin Mu & Lixin Zhou & Mingxia Sun, 2014. "Dynamics of Sewage Charge Policies, Environmental Protection Industry and Polluting Enterprises—A Case Study in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(8), pages 1-19, July.
    4. Yi-Kai Juan & Tseng-Wei Chao, 2015. "Game-Based Learning for Green Building Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-17, May.
    5. Cristina Carletti & Fabio Sciurpi & Leone Pierangioli, 2014. "The Energy Upgrading of Existing Buildings: Window and Shading Device Typologies for Energy Efficiency Refurbishment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(8), pages 1-24, August.
    6. Jernej Markelj & Manja Kitek Kuzman & Petra Grošelj & Martina Zbašnik-Senegačnik, 2014. "A Simplified Method for Evaluating Building Sustainability in the Early Design Phase for Architects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(12), pages 1-21, December.
    7. Kumar, Dileep & Alam, Morshed & Zou, Patrick X.W. & Sanjayan, Jay G. & Memon, Rizwan Ahmed, 2020. "Comparative analysis of building insulation material properties and performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    8. Fabrizio Ascione & Nicola Bianco & Rosa Francesca De Masi & Gerardo Maria Mauro & Giuseppe Peter Vanoli, 2015. "Design of the Building Envelope: A Novel Multi-Objective Approach for the Optimization of Energy Performance and Thermal Comfort," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-28, August.
    9. Rogers, J.G. & Cooper, S.J.G. & O’Grady, Á. & McManus, M.C. & Howard, H.R. & Hammond, G.P., 2015. "The 20% house – An integrated assessment of options for reducing net carbon emissions from existing UK houses," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 108-120.

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