Emission Reduction Potential of Different Types of Finnish Buildings through Energy Retrofits

Abstract

Energy retrofitting of buildings shows great potential in reducing CO2 emissions. However, most retrofitting studies only focus on a single building type. This paper shows the relative potential in six Finnish building types, to identify possible focus areas for future retrofits in Finland. Data from previous optimization studies was used to provide optimal cases for comparison. Energy demand of the buildings was generated through dynamic simulation with the IDA-ICE software. The cases were compared according to emissions reduction, investment and life cycle cost. It was found that, in all buildings, it was possible to reduce emissions cost-neutrally by 20% to 70% in buildings with district heating and by 70% to 95% using heat pumps. Single-family homes with oil or wood boilers switching to heat pumps had the greatest emission reduction potential. More stringent requirements for energy efficiency could be mandated during building renovation.

Building integrated photovoltaics. Overview of barriers and opportunities

“…By definition, NZEBs are buildings that use as much electrical/thermal energy as they produce [8]. The use of electricity from photovoltaic (PV) systems installed on residential and commercial buildings could be a good solution to reduce CO 2 emissions and meet the requirements of net-zero buildings [9]. In many countries, PV systems are recognized as a very important technology in the process of decarbonization of energy systems [10][11][12][13].…”

Decarbonization potentials of the embodied energy use and operational process in buildings: A review from the life-cycle perspective

“…In the Netherlands, through enhancing building insulation and decarbonization of electricity generation, the carbon emissions from space heating in neighbourhoods could be ten times lower between 2030 and 2050 [ 11 ]. In Finland, widely utilizing heat pumps to replace the on-site combustion/electric-based heating or district heating could reduce the building operational carbon emissions by 70–95% [ 12 ].…”

State-of-the-Art Technologies for Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Systems

“…As an abstract definition, NZEB are the buildings that mutually consume as much annual electrical/thermal energy as they produce [12,13]. Incorporating solar energy by employing solar PV panels in residential and commercial buildings may become mainstream in the "practice" solution toward reducing CO 2 emissions and to create net-zero buildings [14]. Note that industrial installation may not be a direct benefactor of such an approach, as the incorporation of solar photovoltaics may not be a priority in the near future.…”