Abstract
This study addresses the life cycle costs (LCC) of energy renovation, and the demolition and construction of a new building. A comparison is made between LCC optimal energy renovations of four different building types with thermal performance, representing Swedish constructions from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, as well as the demolition of the building and construction of a new building that complies with the Swedish building code. A Swedish multi-family building from the 1960s is used as a reference building. LCC optimal energy renovations are identified with energy saving targets ranging between 10% and 70%, in addition to the lowest possible life cycle cost. The analyses show that an ambitious energy renovation is not cost-optimal in any of the studied buildings, if achieving the lowest LCC is the objective function. The cost of the demolition and construction of a new building is higher compared to energy renovation to the same energy performance. The higher rent in new buildings does not compensate for the higher cost of new construction. A more ambitious renovation is required in buildings that have a shape factor with a high internal volume to heated floor area ratio.
Highlights
More than one quarter of the energy use in the European Union takes place in residential buildings [1]
The lowest LCC (LLCC) in the 1940s building is achieved by insulating the attic with 0.22 m, and a reduction in heat demand of 13.3% is achieved
The demolition and construction of a new building has a higher life cycle cost (LCC) than energy renovation of existing buildings
Summary
More than one quarter of the energy use in the European Union takes place in residential buildings [1]. More than 60% of the total energy demand in residential buildings is needed for space heating [2]. Of the existing European buildings, 75% are considered energy inefficient compared to modern energy performance requirements [3]. By implementing energy efficiency measures (EEMs), the energy performance of buildings can be significantly improved. Around 35% of the European building stock is more than 50 years old, and many buildings are in need of renovation [3]. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive [4] recognized that there is an opportunity to reduce the cost of implementing EEMs when buildings are in need of renovation
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