An Exploration of how Energy-Related Ecosystem Services Provided by Extensive Green Roofs in Alberta may be Quantified Using Life Cycle Assessment Tools
Abstract
This thesis explores ways to assign values to an ecosystem service provided by extensive green roofs: indoor temperature regulation of commercial buildings. The objective is to quantify this service from three perspectives; energy, environmental impacts and cost. A representative green roof, the AEI, is used along with roof evaluation modules. A 0.4 °C indoor temperature increase in winter results in no reduction in heating load. In summer, a 3.3°C indoor temperature decrease results in a cooling load decrease of 5 427.42 kWh (four-storey building) and 12 883 kWh (thirteen-storey building). From an LCC perspective, the AEI's simple payback period exceeds its 20 year lifespan. The NPV and IRR are calculated as highly negative numbers which indicates that the financial cons of the AEI outweigh the pros. In summary, from an indoor energy reduction lens the AEI will not reduce heating loads but will reduce cooling loads.
Description
Keywords
Environmental Sciences
Citation
Mtshiya, F. (2015). An Exploration of how Energy-Related Ecosystem Services Provided by Extensive Green Roofs in Alberta may be Quantified Using Life Cycle Assessment Tools (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/24892