Integrated Energy and Environmental Modeling to Design Cost-Effective Building Solutions at a Regional Level
This study introduces a computationally efficient urban building energy model (UBEM) to assess decarbonization strategies for the residential sector at the regional level. The model considers a range of inputs, including building characteristics, climate data, technology penetration, and occupant be...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5730 |
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| author | Mariana Januário Ricardo Gomes Patrícia Baptista Paulo Ferrão |
| author_facet | Mariana Januário Ricardo Gomes Patrícia Baptista Paulo Ferrão |
| author_sort | Mariana Januário |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study introduces a computationally efficient urban building energy model (UBEM) to assess decarbonization strategies for the residential sector at the regional level. The model considers a range of inputs, including building characteristics, climate data, technology penetration, and occupant behavior. The model provides an economic analysis associating emission reduction potential with economic returns through an abatement cost curve, which is critical to designing cost-effective solutions. The model was validated at its full scale in Portugal, using actual consumption data from all municipalities. Key findings showed that lighting upgrades (100% LEDs) are the most cost-effective measure, offering the lowest abatement cost (−521 EUR/tonCO<sub>2</sub>eq) and a low discounted payback period of 2 years, while heat pumps for water heating provide the highest emission reduction potential, with an annual reduction of 863 tonnes of CO<sub>2</sub>eq annually, equivalent to a 20% reduction in national emissions. Additionally, behavioral measures achieved an annual reduction of 147 tonnes of CO<sub>2</sub>eq. The analysis further reveals that, while some measures might have a negative abatement cost at the national level, their economic viability varies locally, with certain municipalities incurring positive abatement costs, highlighting how local context affects the economic viability of decarbonization strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-49dbd7a0ea8d4fe19c28b49c1bae68ef |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-49dbd7a0ea8d4fe19c28b49c1bae68ef2024-11-26T18:02:32ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-11-011722573010.3390/en17225730Integrated Energy and Environmental Modeling to Design Cost-Effective Building Solutions at a Regional LevelMariana Januário0Ricardo Gomes1Patrícia Baptista2Paulo Ferrão3IN+, Centre for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, LARSyS—Laboratory for Robotics and Engineering Systems, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, PortugalIN+, Centre for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, LARSyS—Laboratory for Robotics and Engineering Systems, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, PortugalIN+, Centre for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, LARSyS—Laboratory for Robotics and Engineering Systems, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, PortugalIN+, Centre for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, LARSyS—Laboratory for Robotics and Engineering Systems, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, PortugalThis study introduces a computationally efficient urban building energy model (UBEM) to assess decarbonization strategies for the residential sector at the regional level. The model considers a range of inputs, including building characteristics, climate data, technology penetration, and occupant behavior. The model provides an economic analysis associating emission reduction potential with economic returns through an abatement cost curve, which is critical to designing cost-effective solutions. The model was validated at its full scale in Portugal, using actual consumption data from all municipalities. Key findings showed that lighting upgrades (100% LEDs) are the most cost-effective measure, offering the lowest abatement cost (−521 EUR/tonCO<sub>2</sub>eq) and a low discounted payback period of 2 years, while heat pumps for water heating provide the highest emission reduction potential, with an annual reduction of 863 tonnes of CO<sub>2</sub>eq annually, equivalent to a 20% reduction in national emissions. Additionally, behavioral measures achieved an annual reduction of 147 tonnes of CO<sub>2</sub>eq. The analysis further reveals that, while some measures might have a negative abatement cost at the national level, their economic viability varies locally, with certain municipalities incurring positive abatement costs, highlighting how local context affects the economic viability of decarbonization strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5730decarbonizationresidential energy modelCO2eq emission reductionabatement cost |
| spellingShingle | Mariana Januário Ricardo Gomes Patrícia Baptista Paulo Ferrão Integrated Energy and Environmental Modeling to Design Cost-Effective Building Solutions at a Regional Level Energies decarbonization residential energy model CO2eq emission reduction abatement cost |
| title | Integrated Energy and Environmental Modeling to Design Cost-Effective Building Solutions at a Regional Level |
| title_full | Integrated Energy and Environmental Modeling to Design Cost-Effective Building Solutions at a Regional Level |
| title_fullStr | Integrated Energy and Environmental Modeling to Design Cost-Effective Building Solutions at a Regional Level |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrated Energy and Environmental Modeling to Design Cost-Effective Building Solutions at a Regional Level |
| title_short | Integrated Energy and Environmental Modeling to Design Cost-Effective Building Solutions at a Regional Level |
| title_sort | integrated energy and environmental modeling to design cost effective building solutions at a regional level |
| topic | decarbonization residential energy model CO2eq emission reduction abatement cost |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5730 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marianajanuario integratedenergyandenvironmentalmodelingtodesigncosteffectivebuildingsolutionsataregionallevel AT ricardogomes integratedenergyandenvironmentalmodelingtodesigncosteffectivebuildingsolutionsataregionallevel AT patriciabaptista integratedenergyandenvironmentalmodelingtodesigncosteffectivebuildingsolutionsataregionallevel AT pauloferrao integratedenergyandenvironmentalmodelingtodesigncosteffectivebuildingsolutionsataregionallevel |