Assefa, GetachewStoyke, Godo Albert2018-03-202018-03-202018-03-15http://hdl.handle.net/1880/106444The life cycle optimization (LCO) of zero carbon buildings (ZC) was examined, using a laneway house built with photovoltaic and solar air wall (SAW) renewable energy collection, air-to-water heat pump, smart grid-integrated thermal storage (SGTS) hydronic battery with an internet-connected stochastic (predictive) control system in subarctic Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. LCO is for global warming potential (GWP), energy, cost, and renewable friendliness. A life cycle assessment (LCA) based methodology (carbon return on investment – CROI) is proposed for design and retrofit decisions on the basis of GWP and cost. Sustainable building rating systems are modelled for their effectiveness in reducing GWP and energy use and are found to reduce life cycle GWP by 18.3% (LEED 2009 certified), 60.7% (PassivHaus 9.30), 96.9% (net zero) and 97.2% (zero carbon) compared to a home built to Alberta Building Code 2014 (base model – BM) over an 80 year life cycle. LCA of the ZC laneway house found a 94.4% reduction in GWP compared to the BM. In the BM, manufacturing, construction, maintenance and end of life phases contributed only 3.6% of life cycle GWP. A modelled HP with stochastic control, SAW and SGTS reduced annual energy consumption by 49.2% compared to a HP only, and by 61.8% compared to resistive heating. Using hourly grid pricing as a proxy of renewable friendliness, modelled optimization under a simulated dynamic pricing system by using hourly historic Alberta electrical pool pricing averaged over each month as a stochastic control mechanism for the HP showed a statistically significant 60.7% to 71.5% energy cost reduction, compared to a thermostatically controlled HP. Preliminary ZC real-life sensor readings are examined.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Green building rating systemsclimate changeCO2eCarbon return on investmentCROIIRRcost-benefit analysisleast-cost climate abatementresidual carbon debtstochastic controlheat pumpthermal storageglobal warming potentialenergy efficiencymodel predictive controlenergy efficiency retrofitresidentialArchitecturecommercialGHG emission reductionenergy consumptionLife cycle assessmentLife cycle costingLCALCCCAGBC LEEDnet zero energy buildingzero carbon buildingZEBPassivHauspassive houselaneway houseGarden suitezero-peak houseEdmontonAlbertaCanadaSmart grid-integrated thermal storage (SGTS)Coefficient of performanceCOPPhotovoltaicsolar thermal air wallsolar thermal collectorpredictive controlsweather forecastEnvironmental SciencesEnergyEngineeringEngineering--Electronics and ElectricalEngineering--Mechanicaldoctoral thesis10.11575/PRISM/31737