A life cycle thinking centered methodology for energy retrofit evaluation

Energy retrofits can improve the sustainability of a building by decreasing the energy consumption and resulting GHG emissions throughout its life. Adopting critical life cycle thinking is crucial when deciding on how to implement building retrofits. This article first evaluates innovative and proven building energy retrofits through a life cycle thinking lens. Next, it develops a methodological framework to assess building retrofits using four principal measures: environmental, economic, social, and technical criteria. The proposed method was demonstrated using an institutional building in Windsor, Ontario, as a case study. The case study revealed that the selected retrofit might result in the least energy savings, but it is still the preferred alternative because other factors can present valuable trade-offs that are desirable. The outcomes of this research, with the demonstrated tool, will assist building managers in determining the optimal energy retrofit for their buildings. Key words: environmental sustainability, buildings, energy retrofit, life cycle assessment. Les ameliorations ecoenergetiques peuvent augmenter la durabilite d'un batiment en reduisant la consommation d'energie et les emissions de GES qui en decoulent tout au long du cycle de vie. L'adoption de la pensee critique par rapport au cycle de vie est cruciale pour decider de la facon de mettre en oeuvre les modernisations des batiments. Cet article evalue d'abord les ameliorations econergetiques novatrices et reconnues pour les batiments en tenant compte du cycle de vie. Ensuite, on elabore un cadre methodologique pour evaluer les modernisations des batiments en utilisant quatre mesures principales : les criteres environnementaux, economiques, sociaux et techniques. La methode proposee a ete demontree a l'aide d'un batiment institutionnel a Windsor, en Ontario, comme etude de cas. Les resultats de cette recherche, avec l'outil confirme, aideront les gestionnaires d'immeubles a determiner les ameliorations econergetiques optimales pour leurs immeubles. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : durabilite de l'environnement, batiments, amelioration econergetique, evaluation du cycle de vie.
1. Introduction Climate change poses a momentous threat across the globe and from sources not typically associated with the mainstream images of pollution generators, such as transportation and heavy industry. [...]