A Parametric Tool for the Assessment of Operational Energy Use, Embodied Energy and Embodied Material Emissions in Building

Lolli, Nicola; Fufa, Selamawit Mamo; Inman, Marianne Rose

doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.004

Cited by 35 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Many tools performing parametric analyses on the aforementioned performance aspects already exist on the market but none exist that dynamically link robust and reliable ZEB emissions data with other data in relation to energy or the interoperability with other digital environments, such as the Revit BIM model. In particular, some studies led to the development of new methodologies that enable the integration of two or more energy and/or environmental assessments [53,54,55] (Table 2). Nevertheless, it become increasingly necessary to develop a parameter-driven approach to conduct fast and simplified LCA analyses during the early stage of the design process by integrating "calculation sheets"…”

Section: Parametric Approach To Emissions Calculation In Zebmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parametric design to minimize the embodied GHG emissions in a ZEB

Lobaccaro

Wiberg

Ceci

et al. 2018

Energy and Buildings

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This work aims to apply parametric design in order to minimize the embodied greenhouse gas emissions and operational energy in a zero emission building in Oslo, Norway. An original generative workflow based on parametric design was developed in the Grasshopper environment to conduct energy analyses such as solar radiation and daylighting, and environmental impact analysis, in order to evaluate the embodied and operational greenhouse gas emissions of the building. The workflow was generated in order to parametrically control several building features while varying the building shape, the dimensions of construction components and the quantity of materials. The process leads to the generation of shapes with the least environmental impact. The workflow allows the modification of the initial shape of the Base Case by running iterative simulations through the Galapagos and Octopus evolutionary solvers. For each stage of the shape's optimization, through passive and active strategies, the embodied emissions and energy balances were estimated in order to evaluate how the building design would vary in terms of energy and environmental impact and to identify the implications for the design. This paper shows how design options with low levels of embodied emissions can be generated and optimized automatically, and also demonstrates how a parametric design approach provides the designer with suggestions of low-impact solutions, which can then be integrated and considered early in, and throughout, the design process in a holistic manner.

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Section: Parametric Approach To Emissions Calculation In Zebmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parametric design to minimize the embodied GHG emissions in a ZEB

Lobaccaro

Wiberg

Ceci

et al. 2018

Energy and Buildings

Self Cite

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“…The additional complexity of implementing dynamic approaches like DLCA and GWP bio in conventional LCA software can be an obstacle to a rapid adoption of dynamic biogenic carbon assessment approaches in current practice. In fact, several current developments destined for practitioners adopt the opposite approach: They aim at reducing the complexity of LCA, for example by including it in Building Information Models (BIM) with add-ons like Tally [156] or UBUBI [157,158], or by using parametric tools [159,160]. To the author's knowledge, Temporalis, the dynamic life cycle assessment module of Brightway2, is the only available LCA tool dedicated to dynamic approaches.…”

Section: Comparison Of Both Dynamic Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Climate Change Impacts of Biogenic Carbon in Buildings: A Critical Review of Two Main Dynamic Approaches

et al. 2018

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Wood is increasingly perceived as a renewable, sustainable building material. The carbon it contains, biogenic carbon, comes from biological processes; it is characterized by a rapid turnover in the global carbon cycle. Increasing the use of harvested wood products (HWP) from sustainable forest management could provide highly needed mitigation efforts and carbon removals. However, the combined climate change benefits of sequestering biogenic carbon, storing it in harvested wood products and substituting more emission-intensive materials are hard to quantify. Although different methodological choices and assumptions can lead to opposite conclusions, there is no consensus on the assessment of biogenic carbon in life cycle assessment (LCA). Since LCA is increasingly relied upon for decision and policy making, incorrect biogenic carbon assessment could lead to inefficient or counterproductive strategies, as well as missed opportunities. This article presents a critical review of biogenic carbon impact assessment methods, it compares two main approaches to include time considerations in LCA, and suggests one that seems better suited to assess the impacts of biogenic carbon in buildings.

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“…Areas of potential development, recurring issues and future challenges were identified both through a review [62] and reports on case-studies [33,35]. Sources discussing the use of available simulation and design tools-mainly BIM [34], parametric [63] and evaluation frameworks [38]-set the base for identifying LCA design parameters on building scale. Finally, focused LCA parameters on product and material scale were identified through LCA studies on specific building components and materials.…”

Section: Background Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Findings from studies introducing computational methods and optimization techniques were taken into consideration to identify, among all parameters, those with a bigger impact on the overall LCA of a building [63,64,76].…”

Section: Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review and Mapping of Parameters for the Early Stage Design of Adaptive Building Technologies through Life Cycle Assessment Tools

2019

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Adaptive Building Technologies have opened up a growing field of architectural research aimed at improving the overall building performance, ensuring comfort while reducing operational energy consumption. Focusing on flexibility over short timeframes, these new technologies are however rarely designed within the broader frame of sustainability over their entire lifecycle. How sustainable these zero energy technologies really are is yet to be established. The purpose of the research is to develop a flexible easy-to-use Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool to support creative innovation and sustainable design choices in the early concept and design stages of Adaptive Building Technologies. This paper reports on the results of the first step of the research, providing a mapping in terms of structure and contents of the parameters involved in the design of these technologies. Addressed from a holistic point of view, the elements of the system were defined though a qualitative approach: relevant parameters were collected through document analysis, reviewing the state-of-the-art technology through online databases as ScienceDirect, Scopus, MDPI, ResearchGate, and organized according to hierarchy and relevance in the different life cycle stages. As a result, the paper identifies (1) relevant parameters defining the design of Adaptive Building Technologies; (2) materials, processes and concepts specific to the design of these technologies, as compared to conventional building technologies; (3) issues and knowledge gaps to enable successive research phases; (4) specific actions in each life cycle stage for designers and producers to optimize the design of the technology. The mapping graphically and hierarchically organizes the elements of the system within a flexible structure to be implemented and integrated over time, as the technology evolves, to support parametric design and enable alternative design concepts to arise within a cradle-to-cradle perspective.

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A Parametric Tool for the Assessment of Operational Energy Use, Embodied Energy and Embodied Material Emissions in Building

Cited by 35 publications

References 14 publications

Parametric design to minimize the embodied GHG emissions in a ZEB

Parametric design to minimize the embodied GHG emissions in a ZEB

Assessing the Climate Change Impacts of Biogenic Carbon in Buildings: A Critical Review of Two Main Dynamic Approaches

Review and Mapping of Parameters for the Early Stage Design of Adaptive Building Technologies through Life Cycle Assessment Tools

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