Pitfalls in the Economic and Ecological Evaluation of Energy Related Building Renovation Strategies and Measures

Abstract The relevance of a correct and comprehensive impact assessment methodology for determining costs, primary energy and carbon emissions reductions of energy related renovation options is demonstrated for the case of a Swiss multi-family building. For this case building, a reference scenario was defined which does not improve the energy performance. 9 different options to renovate the building envelope were investigated, in combination with 3 different options for the heating system. The need for the definition of an appropriate and correct reference renovation option which creates a level playing field for the assessment of the impacts of different energy related renovation options is emphasized. The significance of the initial energy performance of a building before renovation on economic viability and resulting energy and carbon emissions reductions is illustrated. Furthermore, the need and the relevance for integrating expectations on future energy prices in the cost assessment options is demonstrated.