Environmental Impacts of Commercial Building Systems

Hourly energy simulation and a life cycle assessment framework were 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 primary energy consumption, global warming potential, tropospheric ozone potential; and acidification potential; and (c) the importance of building load characteristics for the analysis of CHP scenarios.