On the share of embodied energy in the lifetime energy use of typical Hellenic residential buildings

Abstract

The evolution of the built sector towards nearly zero energy buildings is a key issue in the global effort to reduce the greenhouse effect through the abatement of carbon emissions. For a realistic assessment of the potential for energy consumption and emissions reduction in the built sector, a life cycle approach is deemed necessary. However, the contribution of the embodied energy (EE) and related carbon emissions associated with the building lifespan from the early construction phase to its demolition has more often than not been neglected. This work contributes to the existing knowledge on the role of EE in the lifetime primary energy consumption of typical Hellenic residential buildings representing different construction types and vintages. Cradle-to-gate embodied energy coefficients for the most common construction materials have been derived through data analysis from new field surveys and published data from local manufacturing facilities in Greece and compared against international data bases using the Simapro LCA software. Complementary data from the Ecoinvent LCI database have been used where necessary. Practical EE intensities for the building envelope and the share of EE in the whole lifetime energy consumption have been derived for residential building types, taking into account common renovation measures.