Environmental performance assessment: A comparison and improvement of three existing social housing projects

Abstract

The energy consumption of buildings accounts for 22% of total global energy use and 13% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the environmental performance of three social housing designs located in emerging economies by analysing sustainability indicators adopting different technical solutions. The analysis incorporates eleven construction strategies to improve the environmental performance of the buildings. The performance assessment is analysed by using EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) Methodology. Therefore, this study aims to help identify the construction strategies, with the aim of improving the operational energy performance (kWh/year/m 2 floor), operational CO 2 emissions (tCO₂eq/Year/m 2 floor), embodied energy (MJ/m 2 floor) and operational water consumption of housing (m3/year/m 2 floor). The results showed that when the technical measures are implemented, the energy demand decreases by 38.52% in Case A, 19% in Case B, and 41% in Case C. The embodied energy savings in materials in Case A 3%, Case B 0% and Case C 36% Regarding water consumption, the demand decreases by 46%, 4%, and 12% in Case A, B, and C respectively. • Strategies to improve the environmental building performance are identified. • Key implications to achieve green renovation in existing social housing design. • A contribution to the housing environmental performance assessment is presented.