# The cost effectiveness of housing thermal performance improvements in avoiding CO_2- emissions

McLeod, PM 2013 , 'The cost effectiveness of housing thermal performance improvements in avoiding CO_2- emissions', PhD thesis, University of Tasmania.

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## Abstract

It is widely recognised that the built environment is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. In Australia, to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with new houses, energy efficiency provisions were introduced into the Building Code of Australia (BCA). The primary focus of the regulations has been on achieving thermal comfort through a reduction in the energy houses require for heating and cooling (space-conditioning energy). A star rating system is used to indicate the level of thermal performance a new house achieves. Ratings range from 0 to 10 stars and theoretically, the higher the star rating the less space-conditioning energy a house requires. Currently, all new houses built in Australia require a minimum of either a 5 or 6 star rating, depending on the state/territory, with the required minimum level expected to increase incrementally in the future.
It is widely claimed that there are considerable opportunities for cost effective greenhouse gas abatement in the residential building sector. However, the claims generally neglect to take into account any increase in embodied energy (and associated emissions) that may result from implementing those opportunities. Increasing a house’s thermal performance generally increases its embodied emissions. Current research findings indicate that embodied energy and its associated emissions can contribute significantly to a house’s lifecycle energy and CO_2-emissions, with that contribution increasing the more thermally efficient a house becomes.
The aim of this research was to determine and rank the cost effectiveness of a wide range of thermal performance improvements, for houses with ratings from 4 to 8 stars, taking into account their embodied emissions. To achieve this, several project homes constructed in Tasmania whose size and floor plan varied were selected. Using thermal simulation
software the space-conditioning energy requirements of the thermal performance improvements were calculated. The cost of each thermal performance improvement was estimated and the resulting increase in embodied energy calculated. For each house, timber floor and slab-on-ground designs were modelled.
The same thermal performance improvements were made to each house. These were ranked for their cost effectiveness in reducing space-conditioning emissions, minimising the increase in embodied emissions and reducing net emissions. For each measure of cost effectiveness, the rankings were compared to determine the effect house design and house
Item Type: Thesis - PhD McLeod, PM housing, cost, thermal performance, CO_2-e Copyright the author View statistics for this item