Development of Sustainable Dwellings in Wales

Development of Sustainable Dwellings in WalesThis study focuses on the development of a sustainable retrofit plan for a typical dwelling house in Wales. There ar two parts that have been discussed in this report. The first section is a full development plan to reduce the r laster live with a budget of 30K and the second is a calculation of carbon footprint of a building element (wall insularism somatics).The project was predicted to achieve 70% reductions in carbonic acid gas emissions for a cost of some 26K.Furthermore, the strength cost would be reduced by 85% if the development plan was implemented in full. stridewise approach has been used to measure the effect. Replacing the warming system and adding more insulation for the roof, walls and floor are considered the signifi johnt improvement of the project with comely requital periods.The embodied carbon dioxide emission for three different insulation materials has been calculated. Rockwoollen has the lowest rate 8 33 kg co2e compared to 875, 1737 to the Sheeps wool and Expanded Polystyrene respectivel1.1 Background1.1.1 IntroductionIndeed, at that place is a huge pressure on g ein truthwherenments to reduce their nursery hit man emissions. Paris agreement, is a recent agreement within the building blocked Nations Framework congregation on mood Change, was agreed to keep the global warming below 2C (1). British government aims to have an 80% reduction by 2050. This agency a huge improvement is needed in energy efficiency of our existing dwelling. The recent report shows that over 45% of total greenhouse emissions were emitted from dwelling building (2).The domestic sector accounted for 29 % of the total energy consumption in 2015(3).Furthermore, residential was ranked the fourth in the amount of greenhouse gas emission according to national statistics(4) the figure below show the greenhouse gas emission by different sectors.Figure (1) Greenhouse gas emission by sector (DECC), UK, 20141.1 .2 The propertyThis house was built in 1930s and has three bedrooms with South-West facing and located in Wales.The external walls are cavity wall with plaster however without any insulation, the floor has no insulation, the roof is slate tiles with 50mm insulation between the rafters. The windows are double glazed, with a 6mm bank line gap, PVC frames and with U value of 2.8.The doors are also PVC frame with U value of 2.8. The heating system is an old mains gas boiler with 65% efficiency, the capacity of hot water tank 120 litre.1.1.3 Performance prior to refurbishmentThis house has a SAP rating of 45, below the national average of 48 and therefore there is a need to improve its performance to achieve 80 % of reduction in emissions as well as the yearbook fuel cost. This could be achieved by reducing the heat loss through the walls, floor, roof as well as windows and doors.1.2 Development planThere are two factors that are set to dramatically transform the way in which building was designed and fabricated in the early twenty-first century-insulation and energy. There is a need to maximise the insulation levels of the buildings while at the same time rethinking the ways in which building consumes the energy needed to run them.Step 1 Upgrading the heating system Modern boilers are more efficient because they burn the fuel very efficiently. The fuel grapheme also has a direct push on reducing the fuel bill as well as carbon emissions. The condensing gas boiler (90% efficacy) with room thermostat is the best alternative in this matter.Step 2 Insulating the roof, floor and wallsThe challenge in adding insulation levels in domestics is to choose the right materials that fit for purpose. Understanding the properties of the materials and when it is suited to fitting in the attic quadriceps femoris is es moveial. Moreover, price, fire safety, chemicals involved and end of life should also be considered when choosing the material (5).- home Phenolic foam insula tion would offer the best performance of any readily available panel (6). It also has less impact on room size where dry-lining is considered. Kingspans Kooltherm phenolic is the good option for floors. The designed U value for floor is 0.2 W/m2K.-Cavity wall insulation Filling the cavity gap between the inner and outer blocks with appropriate insulation material has been considered. However, it is extremely likely that insulating the cavity alone will not be enough to achieve the required U-values. For this reason, adding internal or external insulation should also be concerned to achieve the targeted U-value. The designed u value for injected insulation with external wall insulation (Rockwool) is 0.49 (W/m2K).-Roofs mineral wool insulation is highly recommended for roof insulation, clx mm is added between rafters and ampere-second mm below them. The designed U value in this case is 0.15 (W/m2K).Step 3 Minimising infiltration (disuse chimneys, draught proofing). airing is needed in traditional buildings to help the fabric breathe. Chimneys would have contributed greatly to the ventilation rate, so it is assured, in some cases, that chimneys could to be left open to get subjective ventilation. However, disused chimney, if left fully open, will often cause more heat loss. It also endure let water in, if it is uncapped. Some methods butt be recommendedCAPS a cap at the top of a chimney will prevent water ingress but allow through ventilation. However, caps can cause huge damage and be very dangerous if they blow off in case of windy weather.Balloons is the quickest and cheapest way to close of a flue that is not being used, but it is awkward and dirty when removing and reinstalling them in place.Step 4 Reducing the energy consumption for inflaming (LED).LED lighting is extremely energy efficient technology and has changed the future of lighting worldwide. The residential LED lighting use less 70% energy and last 25 times longer life (7). The value of lig hting gain in the SAP calculation (67) was reduced by 70% of the original value.Step 5 Installing renewable sources (PV panel).The solar photovoltaic (PV) has many advantages that a householder can benefit from. The main benefit is to cut electrical energy bill as well as sell the left over electricity to the grid. Not to mention, the sunlight is free and that means nearly zero carbon footprint (8). It is advised the Monocrystalline system with 20% efficiency is required to generate around 2700kWh annually. This system requires 21 square meter roof space and makes saving around 12p/kWh from electricity bill. However, if a householder doesnt use the electricity produced, exported to grid or store it in batteries are the only two options available. The storage technology has been ignored because the cost and complexity with installing at dwelling. The exported tariff is 3.1 p/kWh, but this figure could be ignored as the power generated by the system would be captive by the site deman d.Step 6 UPVC triple glazing windowsThe huge heating loss in domestics occurs through windows. There is a growing range in this area to improve the thermal performance of this element. Triple glazing is the best options that could be considered to achieve the reduction target. This element has an excellent U-value (one or less) which provide a falloff in energy consumption as well as reducing CO2 emissions.Step 7 UPVC high efficient doorIt is suggested that the original doors on the property, with a U-value of 2.8 W/m2.K, should be replaced with a high performance triple glazed door, reducing the U-value of the surface by 65%.1.3 Alternatives optionsOther systems were also considered but rejected due to the cost-effectiveness as well as the project size. For exampleMechanical ventilation with heat seey (MVHR) is widely used for highly energy efficient buildings in the UK. However, the complexity to install and the high capital cost, the system was ignored.Under floor heating is a modern technology that allows the householder to esteem the luxury of the warm floor during the winter. In other hand, under floor system is pricey to install in retrofit house and more demanding to maintain if any problem occurs.Wind turbine roof-mounted and freestanding mast wind turbines are two types that can be installed in the project. The micro wind turbine was rejected because the space limitation, the turbine noise and save the birds in the local area.1.4 Analysis and evaluationSAP rating the graph (1) illustrates the improvement of the SAP rating though the development plan. It is distinctly seen that the property has been developed from 45.65 to over 90 and that means the house can achieve band B in the EPC.CO2 emissions rate As it can be seen from the graph (2) below, a significant decrease in CO2 emissions though the development plan. The house would benefit of 70% reduction on CO2 emissions as the plan reduced CO2 emissions rate from 71.35 to below 22.77.Energy cost The annual fuel cost has been reduced from 1354 to below 200 as graph (3) indicates. A reduction of 85% of annual energy bill will be achieved if the designed plan is implemented.The projects budget was 30K however, the full money washed-out in this plan is around 26K. The simple payback method has been used for financial evaluation. The full plan will require 20 years to recover the cost of the project.The plan is designed in stepwise to achieve higher performance as well as keep the cost low as much as possible. The graph (4) shows that SAP rating improvement against the cost for each step. Replacing windows and doors would cost over 7000 and 1000 respectively with having longer payback periods (graph 5), that took them to the end of the list.Note Full data can be found in the appendix (table 3). chart (1) SAP rating during the development planGraph (2) CO2 emissions rate through the development planGraph (3) Annual energy cost through the development planGraph (4) SAP improveme nt vs. CostGraph (5) Simple payback calculation for development plan1.5 ConclusionThe project will benefit significantly by replacing the heating system as well as adding more insulation for the roof, floor and walls. However, replacing windows the doors have slight effect on the house performance as it costs more with less benefit.Installing photovoltaic panels will make a huge impact on the project performance. It would make saving over 55% from the energy bill if 3 KWp panel was installed.2.1 IntroductionThe thermal resistance provided by insulation materials used in the building fabric means that the energy savings from insulation made during the operation of the building far outweigh its embodied environmental impacts. Also, insulation products tend to have a very low density and, therefore, when reviewed in a building context, only relatively small masses of materials are used. However, if insulations are not assessed with a whole-building life-cycle approach they whitethorn n ot appear to be an inherently low environmental impact material, because of the resources and energy used during manufacture, the use of blowing agents and the lack of reuse/recycling at the end of life. This study will illustrate the environmental impact of three different types of insulation it also provides the carbon footprint calculation for the project that was refurbished in the array 1.2.2 Literature surveyThe Green guide classifies the insulation used in the construction intoNon-renewable organic-based insulation much(prenominal) as expanded polystyrene (EPS) this material has conductivity 0.038 W/mK, density 37 kg/m3. It is a rigid, open cell form of polystyrene blown with pentane. EPS is a thermoplastic polymer, so can be reprocessed and recycled more good than thermoset polymers. Most process waste is recycled but there is limited recycling of postconsumer packaging.Renewable organic plant/animal-derived insulation such as Sheeps wool insulation it has conductivity 0. 039 W/mK, density 25 kg/m3. The sheeps wool that is not suitable for textiles, is used for insulation. The wool needs to be scoured, requiring energy and water, and the resulting pesticide correspondence from the sheet dip needs treatment. Binders and polyester fibre are required, as well as chemical treatment to prevent moth attack.Mineral wool insulation such as Rockwool is a medium density insulation product of 45 kg/m3 and has a thermal conductivity of 0.044 W/mK. Rockwool is made of 77% new raw material mainly in the form of diabase, gotland stone, lime stone, cement and bauxite. The remaining 23% are classed as waste materials.End-of-life issues for insulationMany insulation types are recyclable at end of life, but do not currently have any recycling system in place for material recovered from construction, refurbishment or demolition. There is evidence that some insulation waste from construction is incorporated elsewhere within the building, rather than being sent for disp osal. For most materials, the impact associated with end of life is the disposal impact measured by BRE relating to the amount of material landfilled or incinerated. The BRE methodology also includes the emissions associated with incineration and landfill, including burning of landfill gas. For renewable materials, the end-of-life stage can have a significant impact if the sequestered carbon is released back into the environment through incineration or decay in landfill. skirt (1) End-of-life waste destination (reference 11)InsulationEnd of life waste destination (%)LandfillIncinerationRecycledExpanded polystyrene (EPS)9091Sheeps wool10000Rockwool4010502.3 Carbon footprint calculationThe construction carbon calculator is used to determine the environmental impact for insulation materials. This cats-paw was downloaded from the governments website (12).CO2 emissions calculationThe table below shows the total amount of co2 emissions for the three types of insulation.Table (2) Carbon f ootprint calculation for EPS, Sheeps wool and RockwoolReferenceUnitExpanded PolystyreneSheeps woolRockwoolWall aream2110110110Insulation thicknessAssumptionm0.10.10.1Volume of insulationm3111111DensityRef (13)kg/m3372545Masskg407275495Waste 5%Assumptionkg427.35288.75519.75Carbon coefficientRef(14)kgco2/kg3.432.091.12Embodied CO2kg co2e1465.8105603.4875582.12BoundaryRef(14)cradle to gatecradle to gatecradle to grave entrance of materialManufacturer website200 miles from Kent by road175 miles from Liverpool by roadNonTransport Embodied CO2kg co2e19190Waste destinationRef(11)90% landfill100% landfill50% landfillWaste masskg366.3275259.875Waste Embodied CO2kg co2e3.193.481.7Transport of wasteAssumptionmiles100100100Transport waste Embodied CO2kg co2e0.20.20.2 impart waste Embodied CO2kg co2e3.393.681.9Energy consumedAssumptionKwh200200200 kit and caboodle CO2 emissionskg co2e119119119Project duration (days)Assumption333Travel CO2 emissionskg co2e130130130Totalkg co2e1737.2005875.1675833 .022.4 ConclusionAs it can be seen from the previews calculation, the highest embodied CO2 emission is Expanded Polystyrene because of the higher carbon coefficient and end-of-life issue. For that reason EP is out of consideration. Sheeps wool is natural source, absorbing and releasing moisture without decreasing its thermal insulating properties. However, it has more CO2 emissions than Rockwool which also take it out of thought. In addition to Rockwool has less embodied CO2 emissions, it has excellent thermal insulation with more flexibility to install. Mineral wool has also superior fire resistance as well as interrupt acoustic properties.The Paris Agreement main page (2001) Available at http//unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9485.php (Accessed 14 February 2017).DECC (2011), The Carbon Plan Delivering Our Low Carbon Future, p.29.Department of Energy and Climate Change. Digest of United Kingdom energy statistics (DUKES). Available at http//www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistic s/ publications/dukes.Government Statistics (no date) Available at http//4.https//www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/496942/2014_Final_Emissions_Statistics_Release.pdf (Accessed 14 February 2017).Technology Strategy Board, 2014. Reducing energy use in existing homes, a guide to making retrofit work. RETROFIT FOR THE FUTURE, 1, 15.D Pickles, I Brocklebank C Wood, 2010. ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN HISTORIC BUILDINGS Open fires, chimneys and flues. nglish Heritage, 1, 17.LED Lighting Department of Energy. 2017. LED Lighting Department of Energy. ONLINE Available at https//www.energy.gov/energysaver/led-lighting. Accessed 15 February 2017.R. Sadgrove S.Pester, 2014. facility of photovoltaic panels on existing flat roofs some lessons learned. BRE Information Papers, IP 8/14, 7.SEI, Retrofitted Passive Homes, 2009. Retrofitted Passive Homes Guidelines for upgrading existing dwelling in Ireland. Retrofitted Passive Homes, 1, 15.Shorrock L D and Utley J I. Dome stic energy fact file 2003,BRE BR 457. Bracknell, IHS BRE Press, 2003.K Albury J Anderson , 2011. Environmental Impact Of Insulation . BRE TRUST, 2011. 10Government Website. 2007. reflexion Carbon Calculator. ONLINE Available at https//www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency/about/procurement. Accessed 28 February 2017.http//jablite.co.uk. 2016. Jablite EPS . ONLINE Available at http//jablite.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Jablite-EPS.pdf. Accessed 28 February 2017.Sheep Wool Insulation Premium. 2016. Sheep Wool. ONLINE Available at http//www.sheepwoolinsulation.ie/products/premium_insulation_technical.asp. Accessed 28 February 2017.Prof.Hammond Jones, Prof.G and C, 2011. The stock-take of Carbon and Energy (ICE). 1st ed. UK University of BathTable (3) Full data of the development planCurrentStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4Step 5Step 6Step 7Overall Assignment ResultsCurrentNew boilerInsulated FloorInsulated wallsInsulated roofMinimising infiltrationLED lightingPV panelU PVC Triple glazingUPVC doorDwelling volume (m)223.6223.6223.6223.6223.6223.6223.6223.6223.6223.6Effective air change rate1.22611.22611.22611.226141.22610.668780.66880.66880.668780.668784Ventilation type24d24d24d24d24d24d24d24d24d24dFabric heat loss (W/K )309.66309.66213.77130.25123.37123.37123.37123.3784.2882.28Total fabric heat loss (W/K )339.06339.06243.17159.65152.77152.77152.77152.77113.68111.68HLP (W/mK )4.23774.23773.29172.467692.39981.994061.99411.99411.608411.588676Heat gains from water heating, (kWh)1489.61489.61489.61489.651489.61489.651489.61489.61489.651489.648Average interior gains (W)485.09485.09485.09485.085485.09485.085468.49468.49468.494468.4936Average Solar gains (W)339.96339.96339.96339.956339.96339.956339.96339.96254.967254.9673Mean Internal temperature (C)17.53417.53418.06318.640218.69519.053519.04319.04319.372319.39251Space heating requirement in kWh2/m2/year203.94203.94160.8119.082115.4591.337592.20192.20172.931971.72854Efficiency of main space heating system 1 (in %)0.660.90.90.90.90.90.90.90.90.9Efficiency of water heater0.660.90.90.90.90.90.90.90.90.9Fuel for water heating, kWh4281.23139.53139.53139.543139.53139.543139.53139.53139.543139.544Electricity for pumps, fans and electric keep-hot0000000000Electricity for lighting (calculated in Appendix L)284.43284.43284.43284.428284.43284.42885.32885.32885.328385.32833Energy saving/generation technologies0000000-2700-2700-2700Average Fuel costs (p)8.3358.3358.3358.3358.3358.3358.3359.3069.3069.306Additional standing charges174174174174174174174174174174Total energy cost1354.51050.7