Browsing by Keyword "Residential building"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Analysis of life-cycle boundaries for environmental and economic assessment of building energy refurbishment projects(2017-02-01) Oregi, Xabat; Hernandez, Patxi; Hernandez, Rufino; Tecnalia Research & Innovation; PLANIFICACIÓN ENERGÉTICADespite the standardization of the life-cycle assessment methodology for the construction sector, analysts tend to apply some simplifications in relation to the system boundaries, omitting some of the life-cycle stages. In particular, for building energy refurbishment projects, there is a general focus on the operational stage, linked to the main objective of reducing operational energy use. This paper evaluates the relevance of each life-cycle stage in relation to the overall environmental and economic impact on residential building energy refurbishment projects. The results from the analysis of the refurbishment strategies at a case study in Spain show the relatively minor importance of the transport and end of life stages. The construction process stage is also of relatively minor importance regarding the environmental performance. The product, maintenance and replacement stages are generally of higher importance, particularly for economic evaluation. An extensive sensitivity analysis demonstrates the difficulties of simplifying the life-cycle boundaries, suggesting that potential simplifications should take into account various parameters, including the climate region, building typologies, and expected service life. As an example, the results have shown that for cold climate zones and buildings, where large energy savings from energy refurbishment strategies can be achieved, the other life-cycle phases are less important and, in most cases, represent less than 10% of life-cycle environmental impacts.Item Energy efficiency compared studies at Master plan stage for a new urban development in Madrid(University College Dublin, 2008) Arellano, Jesús; Irastorza, Luis; Rodríguez, Francisco; Romero, Ander; LABORATORIO DE TRANSFORMACIÓN URBANA; EDIFICACIÓN DE ENERGÍA POSITIVAIn order to achieve optimum results, energy efficiency of buildings should be first addressed in the pre-design phase. This paper describes the studies carried out in order to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings planned to be built in a large residential-commercial urban development in the north of Madrid. The first analyses are addressed at Master plan design stage, confronting the issue of energy efficient building form. Following selection of four residential and office plots, several mass options, derived from the tight planning regulations for the area, are modelled and simulated in order to compare the results in terms of heating and cooling demand, taking into account each building's surroundings. Once the most efficient mass options are chosen, further studies, centred in envelope materials and building refrigeration and heating systems will be carried out, so the results obtained in all these areas can be used as criteria and specification guides from the early stages of individual building design projects.