Conference Paper

Proceedings of SimBuild Conference 2024

Minimizing Operational Carbon Within Whole Life Carbon for New Construction

Jamy Bacchus ¹, Caitlin Anderson ¹, Sedighehsadat Mirianhosseinabadi ^2
1 ME Engineers, United States of America
² Populous

Abstract: This study investigates a 28-year approach to minimize a building's operational carbon emissions. It delves into the complexities of operational emissions, encompassing electricity, gas, refrigerants, and energy tied to water usage. The findings reveal that in regions with carbon-intensive grids, heat pumps show potential for significant reductions in operational carbon emissions. However, incorporating embodied carbon emissions from construction materials mitigates the relative impacts, and including transportation emissions significantly impact the building's overall carbon footprint. Comparing ASHRAE 240P and ASHRAE 228 standards highlights their differences, with 240P's forward-looking approach considering more categories of emissions contributions and 228 relying on historical emissions data. The research underscores regional variations, refrigerants' significance, and the potential of solar photovoltaic systems, battery storage and heat pumps in emission reduction. It provides valuable insights for architects, builders, and policymakers striving for eco-friendly building solutions.
Keywords: Whole Life Carbon, GHG accounting, operational carbon, embodied carbon
Pages: 352 - 363
Paper: