Uncertainty Analysis of Embedded Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Using BIM in Early Design Stages

Patricia Schneider-Marin, Hannes Harter, Konstantin Tkachuk and Werner Lang
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Patricia Schneider-Marin: Institute of Energy Efficient and Sustainable Design and Building, Technische Universität München (Technical University of Munich, TUM), 80333 München, Germany
Hannes Harter: Institute of Energy Efficient and Sustainable Design and Building, Technische Universität München (Technical University of Munich, TUM), 80333 München, Germany
Konstantin Tkachuk: Institute of Energy Efficient and Sustainable Design and Building, Technische Universität München (Technical University of Munich, TUM), 80333 München, Germany
Werner Lang: Institute of Energy Efficient and Sustainable Design and Building, Technische Universität München (Technical University of Munich, TUM), 80333 München, Germany

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-19

Abstract: With current efforts to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of buildings in the operational phase, the share of embedded energy (EE) and embedded GHG emissions is increasing. In early design stages, chances to influence these factors in a positive way are greatest, but very little and vague information about the future building is available. Therefore, this study introduces a building information modeling (BIM)-based method to analyze the contribution of the main functional parts of buildings to find embedded energy demand and GHG emission reduction potentials. At the same time, a sensitivity analysis shows the variance in results due to the uncertainties inherent in early design to avoid misleadingly precise results. The sensitivity analysis provides guidance to the design team as to where to strategically reduce uncertainties in order to increase precision of the overall results. A case study shows that the variability and sensitivity of the results differ between environmental indicators and construction types (wood or concrete). The case study contribution analysis reveals that the building’s structure is the main contributor of roughly half of total GHG emissions if the main structural material is reinforced concrete. Exchanging reinforced concrete for a wood structure reduces total GHG emissions by 25%, with GHG emissions of the structure contributing 33% and windows 30%. Variability can be reduced systematically by first reducing vagueness in geometrical and technical specifications and subsequently in the amount of interior walls. The study shows how a simplified and fast BIM-based calculation provides valuable guidance in early design stages.

Keywords: early building design; life cycle assessment (LCA); building information modeling (BIM); embedded greenhouse gas emissions; embedded global warming potential; life cycle energy analysis; life cycle energy assessment; design assessment; embedded primary energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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