i-manager Publications

Modeling the building life cycle for energy sustainability under conditions of uncertainty

Jennifer R. Dicks*, Richard H. Mccuen**

* Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park.

** The Ben Dyer Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park.

Periodicity:September - November'2013
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jste.2.3.2584

Abstract

The demand for energy is high and is expected to continue increasing with the growth in both population and technological development. With the increase in energy demand, concerns about environmental issues, such as the depletion of nonrenewable energy sources, environmental pollution, health and safety hazards, and the production of waste, also increase. In order to meet sustainability goals, methods of conserving energy need to be explored and implemented. In this study,a model of the construction-deconstruction life cycle of a building was developed to assess the significance of energy savings when recyclable materials, reusable materials, renewable energy sources, and more efficient systems are incorporated. The model enables both the evaluation of the energy requirements for each process for any building type and the assessment of energy savings from conservation efforts. When compared with the energy requirements of a standard home, the use of reusable materials conserved significantly has more energy than any other scenario. Using of recyclable building materials was another effective method of energy conservation, but the savings were not as great as with reusable materials. The use of energy efficient systems conserved the least energy and the use of renewable energy sources resulted in a savings that was between the use of efficient systems and the use of recyclable materials.

Keywords

Energy, Sustainability, Building life cycle, Conservation, Uncertainty, Recycling.

How to Cite this Article?

Dicks, J.R., and McCuen, R.H. (2013). Modeling the building life cycle for energy sustainability under conditions of uncertainty. i-manager’s Journal on Structural Engineering, 2(3), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.26634/jste.2.3.2584

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Modeling the building life cycle for energy sustainability under conditions of uncertainty

Abstract

Keywords

How to Cite this Article?

References

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