Energy optimization and environmental certification of buildings

To mitigate the environmental impact of buildings, Danish legislation sets standards only to the in-use energy consumption. This is problematic as this is only one aspect out of many that has to be taken into consideration when designing sustainable buildings. An environmental assessment incorporates in addition issues such as management, health and wellbeing, transport, water, materials, waste, pollution etc. These methods are widely used around the world to stimulate the demand for sustainable design by providing credible environmental labels for buildings.

In this project, an office building that represents Danish legislation and building practices as it exists today has been optimized to meet stricter requirements to energy consumption and indoor environment. This has been done by reviewing and optimizing the buildings orientation, technical installations, glass elements and constructions using BSim and Be06 to reduce heat loss, assure optimal gain from free solar energy, reduce electricity consumption and improve the indoor environment. The optimized building has been evaluated according to the technical guidelines in the British environmental assessment method, BREEAM, and thereby showing the environmental performance in Danish construction. The result is a building with an energy consumption reduced by 25 %, improved indoor environment and the BREEAM rating PASS achieved.

It is furthermore discussed what a Danish assessment method should contain, what kind of problems and benefits there are and how it should be implemented in the construction industry.