Introduction

Project Objectives

1. To produce a methodology for designing ‘Zero Emission Buildings’.

2. To apply this methodology to a case study.

A review of state of the art energy efficient buildings together with investigation of current building design practices and contact with building design professionals showed the integration of renewable and passive technologies was ad hoc in most cases. Our team constructed a comprehensive methodology to be used by those involved in building design comprising a high level tool for fast selection of appropriate technology. The methodology was applied in a case study; the Rottenrow Site at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. The renewable technology selection was useful for the swift elimination of unsuitable technologies, leaving fewer options for further detailed analysis.

The team conducted a preliminary investigation into the definition of Zero Emission Buildings and discovered there were two distinct definitions which were:

1. Zero CO₂ emissions from energy during the use phase of a building.

2. Zero CO₂ emissions over the building lifecycle.

For the purpose of this project Zero Emissions is defined as ‘Zero CO₂ emissions form energy during the use phase of a building’. The definition was chosen because evaluating CO₂ emissions over the complete building lifecycle is a too vast a subject area too investigate in the available timescale.

SEE ENVIRONMENTAL LIFECYCLE OF BUILDINGS

STATE OF THE ART