Comprehensive spatial LCA framework for urban scale net zero energy buildings in Canada using GIS and BIM

Yang Li and Haibo Feng

Applied Energy, 2025, vol. 388, issue C, No S0306261925003794

Abstract: The Canadian federal government has set ambitious targets for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, with buildings contributing 12 % of the country's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To reduce building GHG emissions, assessing the life cycle energy and carbon impacts of urban buildings is a critical first step. However, the lack of spatial Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) frameworks tailored for urban-level analysis complicates efforts to achieve these sustainability goals. This study develops a novel spatialized LCA framework, integrating GIS (Geographic Information Systems), BIM (Building Information Modeling), and LCA methodologies, to evaluate the life cycle impacts of Canadian urban buildings. The framework adheres to ISO 14044, ISO 14040, and EN 15978 standards and covers the entire building life cycle, including manufacturing, construction, operation, and end-of-life phases. A case study of Richmond BC, Canada, using a LoD101 city model, demonstrates that UNZEB scenarios achieve lower environmental impacts compared to Business-as-Usual (BAU) urban development. The findings identify low-rise apartments and mixed-use commercial buildings as impact hotspots, particularly in operational phases. Implementing Urban Net Zero Energy Building (UNZEB) strategies results in significantly cutting total life cycle emissions by 40 %, but highlights burden-shifting to upstream and downstream processes. This research supports urban sustainability and net-zero energy targets while informing policy and decision-making for large-scale urban planning.

Keywords: Urban LCA; Urban net zero energy buildings; Net-zero energy; GIS; Environmental impact; Sustainable urban development; Renewable energy integration; Energy efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125649

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