Abstract
To mitigate the effects of climate change, the European Union calls for major carbon emission reductions in the building sector through a deep renovation of the existing building stock. This study examines the cost-effective energy retrofit measures in Finnish detached houses. The Finnish detached house building stock was divided into four age classes according to the building code in effect at the time of their construction. Multi-objective optimization with a genetic algorithm was used to minimize the life cycle cost and CO2 emissions in each building type for five different main heating systems (district heating, wood/oil boiler, direct electric heating, and ground-source heat pump) by improving the building envelope and systems. Cost-effective emission reductions were possible with all heating systems, but especially with ground-source heat pumps. Replacing oil boilers with ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs), emissions could be reduced by 79% to 92% across all the studied detached houses and investment levels. With all the other heating systems, emission reductions of 20% to 75% were possible. The most cost-effective individual renovation measures were the installation of air-to-air heat pumps for auxiliary heating and improving the thermal insulation of external walls.
Highlights
European Union (EU) climate goals aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, compared to the level of 1990 [1]
Any make-up air is heated through the space system in thosein buildings
Figure air shows the breakdown of the life cycle costs the Pareto
Summary
European Union (EU) climate goals aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, compared to the level of 1990 [1]. Energy use in buildings accounts for 40% of energy consumption and a similar fraction of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union (EU). Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires all new houses to be nearly zero-energy buildings by the end of the year 2020. The latest update to the EPBD calls for all EU member states to create a roadmap for the energy renovation of existing buildings as well. The requirement to improve building energy efficiency alongside other renovations has been outlined in Finnish environmental regulation [3].
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