A Parametric Integrated Design Approach for Life Cycle Zero-Carbon Buildings

Ehsan Kamel, Francesco Pittau (), Laura Mora Dal Verme, Piergiorgio Scatigna and Giuliana Iannaccone
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Ehsan Kamel: Department of Energy Management, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA
Francesco Pittau: Department of Architecture Built Environment and Construction Engineering (ABC), Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 31, 20133 Milan, Italy
Laura Mora Dal Verme: Department of Energy Management, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA
Piergiorgio Scatigna: Department of Energy Management, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA
Giuliana Iannaccone: Department of Architecture Built Environment and Construction Engineering (ABC), Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 31, 20133 Milan, Italy

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 5, 1-22

Abstract: Implementing net-zero carbon design is a crucial step towards decarbonizing the built environment during the entire life cycle of a building, encompassing both embodied and operational carbon. This paper presents a novel computational approach to designing life cycle zero-carbon buildings (LC-ZCBs), utilizing parametric integrated modeling through the versatile Grasshopper platform. A residential building located at the New York Institute of Technology, optimized to fulfill the LC-ZCB target, serves as a case study for this comprehensive study. Four main influencing design parameters are defined, and three hundred design combinations are evaluated through the assessment of operational carbon (OC) and embodied carbon (EC). By incorporating biobased materials in the design options (BIO) as a replacement for conventional insulation (OPT), the influence of biogenic carbon is addressed by utilizing the GWPbio dynamic method. While both OPT and BIO registered similar OC, with values ranging below 0.7 kg CO 2 eq/m 2 a, the EC is largely different, with negative values ranging between −0.64 and −0.54 kg CO 2 eq/m 2 a only for BIO alternatives, while the OPT ones achieved positive values (2.25–2.45 kg CO 2 eq/m 2 a). Finally, to account for potential climate changes, future climate data, and 2099 weather conditions are considered during the scenario assessments. The results show that OC tends to slightly decrease due to the increasing productivity of PV panels. Thus, the life cycle emissions for all OPT alternatives decrease, moving from 2.4–3.0 kg CO 2 eq/m 2 a to 2.2–2.4, but none of them achieve the LC-ZCB target, while BIO alternatives are able to achieve the target with negative values between −0.15 and −0.60 kg CO 2 eq/m 2 a. There is potential for achieving LC-ZCBs when fast-growing biobased materials are largely used as construction materials, fostering a more environmentally responsible future for the construction industry.

Keywords: parametric building design; zero-carbon building; biobased materials; biogenic carbon; climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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