Construction Management & Sustainability Research Featured PublicationLife Cycle Impact Analysis of Energy Systems for BuildingsAyat Osman1 and Robert Ries2 AbstractCogeneration systems offer an opportunity to satisfy a building's electrical and thermal loads, which could result in an overall energy efficiency improvement and lower environmental impact. Hourly energy simulation and a life cycle assessment framework is used to evaluate the relative environmental impacts and energy efficiencies of the construction and operation of alternative technologies for providing space and domestic water heating, cooling, and electrical power for equipment and lights in buildings. Life cycle comparisons are presented for current practice (average U.S. power generation mix, electric chillers, and gas-fired boilers), high efficiency natural gas combined cycle power generation, and three building-integrated combined heat and power (CHP) technologies. The analysis demonstrates (a) a framework that supports decision-making regarding system selection and operational strategies to limit environmental impact; (b) the importance of a life cycle assessment framework, illustrated by the analysis of global warming potentials and tropospheric ozone potential; and (c) the importance of building load characteristics for the analysis of CHP scenarios. 1 Graduate Student, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 949 Benedum Hall, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, Pa 15260. Email: 2 Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 949 Benedum Hall, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, Pa 15260. Email: |
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