Creation of Zero CO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; Emissions Residential Buildings due to Operating and Embodied Energy Use on the Island of Crete, Greece

John Vourdoubas

doi:10.4236/ojee.2017.64011

Abstract

The possibility of creating zero CO2 emissions residential buildings due to life cycle energy use in the island of Crete, Greece has been examined. In a typical residential building located in Crete, Greece, its annual operating energy has been appraised at 170 KWh/m2 and its embodied energy at 30 KWh/m2. Various locally available renewable energies including solar energy, solid biomass and low enthalpy geothermal energy with heat pumps have been considered for generating the required heat and offsetting the grid electricity used. Their technologies are mature, reliable and cost-effective. Offset of the annual grid electricity use in the building with solar-PV electricity is allowed according to the net metering regulation. For zero carbon emissions due to embodied energy of the building, generation of additional solar electricity injected into the grid is required. A mathematical model has been developed for sizing the required solar-PV system installed in the building in order to offset the grid electricity use. For a residential building in Crete, Greece with a covered area of 100 m2, the power of the additional solar-PV system has been estimated at 1.6 KWp and its cost at 2400 €. In the current work, it is indicated that the creation of a zero CO2 emissions residential building due to life cycle energy use in Crete, Greece does not have major difficulties and it could be achieved relatively easily.

Highlights

IntroductionImprovement of their energy efficiency is of paramount importance for promoting sustainability and current European regulations are targeting at nearly zero energy buildings focusing on their operating energy
The aim of the current study is to investigate the possibility of creating zero CO2 emissions grid-connected residential buildings due to operating and embodied energy use with reference to the island of Crete, Greece
The current study indicates the way that renewable energy technologies can be used in residential buildings in order to zero their overall carbon emissions due to operating and embodied energy use with reference to the island of Crete, Greece

Summary

Introduction

Improvement of their energy efficiency is of paramount importance for promoting sustainability and current European regulations are targeting at nearly zero energy buildings focusing on their operating energy. The authors stated that the zero energy building concept requires a clear and consistent definition and a common agreed energy calculation methodology. Vourdoubas, 2016 [3] has reported on the creation of zero CO2 emissions residential buildings due to operating energy use in Crete, Greece. The author estimated, for a typical residential building in Crete, Greece, its annual CO2 emissions due to operating energy use at 84.55 kgCO2 per m2. Realization of a small residential building with zero CO2 emissions due to energy use in Crete, Greece has been reported from Vourdoubas, 2017 [4]. 2015 [5] has implemented various case studies, including households, concerning electricity generation with solar-PVs in Greece according to the net-metering regulations, indicating that it was profitable

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