scholarly journals Towards Net Zero Carbon Economy: Improving the Sustainability of Existing Industrial Infrastructures in the UK

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 5896
Author(s):  
Ali Shubbar ◽  
Mohammed Nasr ◽  
Mayadah Falah ◽  
Zainab Al-Khafaji
Keyword(s):  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Industrial Sector ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Industrial Building ◽  
Software Modeling ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
The Uk

To comply with the new net zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) target set by the United Kingdom government by 2050, different sectors including the industrial sector are required to take action to achieve this target. Improving the building envelope and production of clean energy on site are among the activities that should be considered by businesses to reduce their carbon emissions. This research analysis the current energy performance and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of an industrial building in Liverpool, UK utilizing the Integrated Environmental Solutions Virtual Environment (IESVE) software modeling. Then it has proposed some methods for improving the current performance and reduce the carbon footprint of the building. The results indicated that the installation of wall and floor insulation could decrease the energy usage and CO2 emissions of the building by about 56.39%. Additionally, the production of clean energy on site using solar photovoltaic (PV) panels could reduce the annual CO2 emissions by up to 16%. Furthermore, this research provided some figures about offsetting the rest of CO2 emissions using different international offsetting schemes to achieve carbon neutrality of the building.

scholarly journals Retrofitting Existing Buildings to Improve Energy Performance

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 666
Author(s):  
Sunil Kumar Sharma ◽  
Swati Mohapatra ◽  
Rakesh Chandmal Sharma ◽  
Sinem Alturjman ◽  
Chadi Altrjman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Simulation Analysis ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Climate Control ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Annual Reduction ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2

Energy-efficient retrofits embrace enhancement of the building envelope through climate control strategies, employment of building-integrated renewable energy technologies, and insulation for a sustainable city. Building envelope improvements with insulation is a common approach, yet decision-making plays an important role in determining the most appropriate envelope retrofit strategy. In this paper, the main objective is to evaluate different retrofit strategies (RS) through a calibrated simulation approach. Based on an energy performance audit and monitoring, an existing building is evaluated on performance levels and improvement potentials with basic energy conservation measures. The considered building is experimentally monitored for a full year, and monitoring data are used in calibrating the simulation model. The validation of the base model is done by comparing the simulation analysis with the experimental investigation, and good agreement is found. Three different retrofit strategies based on Intervention of minor (RS1), Moderate (RS2), and Major (RS3) are analyzed and juxtaposed with the base model to identify the optimal strategy of minimizing energy consumption. The result shows that total energy intensity in terms of the percentage reduction index is about 16.7% for RS1, 19.87 for RS2, and 24.12% for RS3. Hence, RS3 is considered the optimal retrofit strategy and is further simulated for a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and payback investigation. It was found that the annual reduction in CO2 emissions of the building was 18.56%, and the payback period for the investment was 10.6 years.

Net zero carbon: Energy performance targets for offices

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-369
Author(s):  
Robert Cohen ◽  
Karl Desai ◽  
Jennifer Elias ◽  
Richard Twinn
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Minimum Energy ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Consultation Process ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Extensive Consultation ◽  
Operational Energy ◽  
Legislative Framework ◽  
Zero Carbon ◽  
The Uk

The UKGBC Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework was published in April 2019 following an industry task group and extensive consultation process. The framework acts as guidance for achieving net zero carbon for operational energy and construction emissions, with a whole life carbon approach to be developed in the future. In consultation with industry, further detail and stricter requirements are being developed over time. In October 2019, proposals were set out for industry consultation on minimum energy efficiency targets for new and existing commercial office buildings seeking to achieve net zero carbon status for operational energy today, based on the performance levels that all buildings will be required to achieve by 2050. This was complemented by modelling work undertaken by the LETI network looking into net zero carbon requirements for new buildings. In January 2020 UKGBC published its guidance on the levels of energy performance that offices should target to achieve net zero and a trajectory for getting there by 2035. This paper describes the methodology behind and industry perspectives on UKGBC’s proposals which aim to predict the reduction in building energy intensity required if the UK’s economy is to be fully-powered by zero carbon energy in 2050. Practical application: Many developers and investors seeking to procure new commercial offices or undertake major refurbishments of existing offices are engaging with the ‘net zero carbon’ agenda, now intrinsic to the legislative framework for economic activity in the UK. A UKGBC initiative effectively filled a vacuum by defining a set of requirements including energy efficiency thresholds for commercial offices in the UK to be considered ‘net zero carbon’. This paper provides all stakeholders with a detailed justification for the level of these thresholds and what might be done to achieve them. A worked example details one possible solution for a new office.

scholarly journals Nexus between Economy, Agriculture, Population, Renewable Energy and CO2 Emissions: Evidence from Asia-Pacific Countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 261-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Latif ◽  
Muhammad Yousaf Raza ◽  
Shahid Adil ◽  
Rehana Kouser
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Granger Causality ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Causality Test ◽  
Agriculture Sector ◽  
Short Run ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2

This study uses panel co-integration methods and Granger causality examines to scrutinize the dynamic causal relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, gross domestic product (GDP), renewable energy (RE), agriculture value added (AVA) and population for the thirteen developed and developing Asia Pacific countries (APCs) covering the period 2005-2017. The results evaluate in two ways: in the short-run, Granger causality test (GCT) is operating from AVA to GDP and express bidirectional causation among GDP and agriculture. In the distant future, there is causality from RE and Population to CO2emissions. The short-run causality is important due to the agriculture sector which causes in boosting GDP while economic development, population and clean energy (including waste and combustible) raise CO2 emissions causes in the reduction of production and services. The research finds out that reduction in AVA, GDP increase, uncontrolled population and lack of attention on clean energy are interrelated in creating emissions. Policy recommendation insights that Asian Pacific establishments should control the population, less use of fossil fuel, encourage clean energy technologies such as solar and wind to fight with global warming.

scholarly journals Influence of glazing type on energy efficiency of industrial buildings in the process of revitalization: A case study

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44
Author(s):  
Branko Slavkovic
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Industrial Building ◽  
Industrial Buildings ◽  
Double Skin ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City

This paper examines the possibilities of improving the energy performance of an existing industrial building by application of the double skin fa?ade on the revitalization of the building envelope in the climatic conditions of the city Novi Pazar, Republic of Serbia. The aim is to examine the impact of choosing the type of glazing, in the processes of revitalization, on the energy needs of industrial buildings for heating and cooling, as well as the contribution of the measures implemented to improve the energy performance of the selected type and model of industrial building. The energy performance of buildings was obtained using the software DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus simulation platform, taking into account the parameters of required internal temperature and climate data for the Republic of Serbia. The comparative analysis of the results of energy simulation according to the criterion of achieving greater energy savings and reduced carbon dioxide emissions was performed. The methodological approach in this research involves creating revitalization scenarios of industrial buildings with a shed roof construction, selection of the specific building according to whose properties by numerical simulation possibilities for energy revitalization depletion were investigated and comparative analysis of the obtained results was performed. The primary objective of this research is to investigate the impact of choosing the type of glazing on the energy performance of industrial buildings with a shed roof construction and to determine the optimal approach to energy revitalization of existing industrial buildings with the implementation of the double skin fa?ade under the climatic conditions of the city Novi Pazar, Republic of Serbia. The results of this paper indicate the negative characteristics of the kopilit glass to solar gains, whose retention requires a large amount of heating energy. While replacing of kopilit glass with a low-energy glass increases the amount of energy required to cooling of the building. With this research, through various revitalization scenarios, it is also indicated that using a double skin fa?ade in the revitalization process of the selected building, has a very similar impact on reducing CO2 emissions regardless of the type of glazing choice.

GREENING THE UK BUILDING STOCK: Historic Trends and Low Carbon Futures 1970-2050

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
A I Brown ◽  
G P Hammond ◽  
C I Jones ◽  
F J Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Industrial Processing ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
The Uk

Historic trends and future projections of energy use and carbon dioxide emissions associated with the United Kingdom building stock are analysed for the period 1970-2050. Energy use in housing is found to rise at a slightly slower rate than the increase in household numbers, which totalled some 25.5 million in 2000. It appears feasible to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the UK domestic building stock by more than 65% by 2050. But this would require a significant take-up of energy saving measures and the adoption of various low or zero carbon (LZC) energy technologies. Non-domestic buildings consisted of some 1.98 million premises in 2000. Anticipated changes in the UK Building Regulations will lead to reductions in energy use and carbon emissions of up to 17% and 12% respectively for 2010 standard buildings. Improvements in the non-domestic building stock and industrial processing could lead to a reduction of nearly 59% in CO2 emissions, via the adoption of LZC energy technologies. Thus, the potential for ‘greening' the UK building stock – making it environmentally benign - is large, but the measures needed to achieve this would present a significant challenge to the UK government, domestic householders, and industry in the broadest sense.

scholarly journals Potential Reconstruction Design of an Existing Townhouse in Washington DC for Approaching Net Zero Energy Building Goal

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (23) ◽  
pp. 6631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakdirat Kaewunruen ◽  
Jessada Sresakoolchai ◽  
Lalida Kerinnonta
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Washington Dc ◽  
Existing Buildings ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
Net Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero Energy Building ◽  
Net Zero

The concept of the Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) has received more interest from researchers due to global warming concerns. This paper proposes to illustrate optional solutions to allow existing buildings to achieve NZEB goals. The aim of this study is to investigate factors that can improve existing building performance to be in line with the NZEB concept and be more sustainable. An existing townhouse in Washington, DC was chosen as the research target to study how to retrofit or reconstruct the design of a building according to the NZEB concept. The methodology of this research is modeling an existing townhouse to assess the current situation and creating optional models for improving energy efficiency of the townhouse in Revit and utilising renewable energy technology for energy supply. This residential building was modeled in three versions to compare changes in energy performance including improving thermal efficiency of building envelope, increasing thickness of the wall, and installing smart windows (switchable windows). These solutions can reduce energy and cost by approximately 8.16%, 10.16%, and 14.65%, respectively, compared to the original townhouse. Two renewable energy technologies that were considered in this research were photovoltaic and wind systems. The methods can be applied to reconstruct other existing buildings in the future.

scholarly journals How can UK Housing Projects be Brought in Line With Net-Zero Carbon Emission Targets?

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ljubomir Jankovic ◽  
Purvesh Bharadwaj ◽  
Silvio Carta
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Simulation ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Simulation Modelling ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Zero Carbon ◽  
Carbon Performance

Numerous local authorities are committed to constructing buildings to net-zero carbon emissions performance, and have declared carbon emergency, striving to reach carbon neutrality well before 2050. However, buildings in the UK are currently being designed and constructed to current building regulations which do not require net-zero performance, and these buildings will last well beyond 2050. This paper presents a case study of a housing development in Hertfordshire, UK, where a structured approach for achieving net-zero carbon performance homes was developed. The methodology was based on dynamic simulation modelling to design buildings which achieve net-zero operational emissions, and an industry standard inventory of carbon and energy database was used to evaluate embodied emissions in building materials. The approach comprised of developing dynamic simulation models to investigate the improvement in energy performance of the development through fabric-first approach, focusing on building envelope design prior to introducing renewable energy systems, in order to achieve operational net-zero carbon performance. Carbon emissions (operational and embodied) were investigated to assess the appropriateness of the deployed strategies. Dynamic simulation results combined with embodied emissions analysis illustrated that, by combining embodied and operational emissions, a net-zero carbon performance would be achievable by the 2050 target only if alternative building materials based on photosynthetic bio-composites are used. This analysis also highlighted the limitations of conventional retrofit interventions carried out 10 years after the construction as they resulted in increased embodied carbon emissions, thus lengthening the time period well beyond the 2050 target for achieving net-zero carbon performance. As the use of conventional materials appeared to delay the achievement of net-zero emissions by several decades, the only way to achieve net-zero targets before 2050 is to design new buildings to be carbon negative from the operational point of view and to use photosynthetic materials for their construction.

scholarly journals Impact of Low-E Window Films on Energy Consumption and CO2 Emissions of an Existing UK Hotel Building

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 4265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiva Amirkhani ◽  
Ali Bahadori-Jahromi ◽  
Anastasia Mylona ◽  
Paulina Godfrey ◽  
Darren Cook
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Total Energy ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Time Range ◽  
Climate Control ◽  
Actual Energy Consumption ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

In order to fulfil the UK government’s ambitious goal of 80% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 compared to the levels of 1990s, unprecedented measures for improving the energy efficiency of buildings are needed. This study investigates the impact of a specific type of Low-emissivity (Low-E) window film—Thinsulate Climate Control 75—on the holistic energy consumption of an existing United Kingdom (UK) hotel building. Building modelling and energy simulation software EDSL TAS is used to conduct the study. The result of the simulations demonstrates that by applying Thinsulate films, savings in heating, cooling, and total energy consumptions are achieved by 3%, 20%, and 2.7%, respectively. Also 4.1% and 5.1% savings are achieved in annual CO2 emissions and total energy costs, respectively, while the initial costs may be an issue. This study found that application of Low-E window films results in slightly better energy performance of the hotel regarding its heating-dominant climate. The study also recommends using average annual actual energy consumption data for a time range, instead of picking a single year’s data for validating purposes.

Investigating the Opportunities to Improve the Thermal Performance of a Case Study Building in London

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Yasin Yousefi ◽  
Petra Gratton ◽  
Dilshad Sarwar
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Calculation Methodology ◽  
Heating Load ◽  
Thermal Bridging ◽  
The Uk

This study was carried out to investigate the opportunities of improving thermal performance by focusing on envelope effects of a building located in London. Firstly, through a broad literature review of the previous conducted case studies, an investigation of all the building envelope aspects and parameters influencing the thermal performance of the building was conducted to provide critical information of thermal performance of the envelope components within the UK buildings. Then, onsite measurements were carried out to obtain the building's base case heating load using the standard CIBSE GUIDE A 2017 heat load calculation methodology. Neglecting thermal bridging in the heating calculation showed 8% reduction in the building's total heating load. Also, 17% reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions was achieved by applying polyurethane-foam and polystyrene-boards as cavity and external wall insulations, respectively. Moreover, the effect of applying both insulation in the energy consumption, CO2 emissions, cost and payback period analysis was analysed.

scholarly journals Exploring the energy performance of an existing industrial building

2020 ◽  
Vol 181 ◽  
pp. 03004
Author(s):  
Sokol Dervishi ◽  
Sikris Karamani
Keyword(s):  
Objective Assessment ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Industrial Building ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Performance Simulation ◽  
Building Performance Simulation ◽  
Weather Information ◽  
Occupancy Patterns ◽  
Roof Design

The present paper explores the energy performance and thermal comfort conditions of an existing industrial building in Durres, Albania. The study analysis the building envelope retrofitting via building performance simulation. Measurements of indoor air temperature in two zones of the building were conducted Two retrofit scenarios were applied to evaluate the potential for improvement. Detailed construction activity, weather information, and occupancy patterns were applied in modelling the facility. In addition, detailed interior loads were considered including the machines used, occupancy and lighting operation patterns. The results provide an objective assessment of the actual energy performance and indoor environmental performance of the selected industrial building. The scenarios incorporate the use of thermal insulation of the walls and the roof, as well as modifying the roof design while increasing the ventilation regime during the summer period. The results suggest that improvements and insulations in building fabrics and ventilation regime could reduce the annual energy consumption up to 19 and reduce the monthly summer temperature up to 1.5 °C.

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