Design Strategies for Timber Construction in the Netherlands
A ‘Transparent Guide’ to Maximise Carbon Storage and Minimise Embodied Energy
S. van Etten (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
G. Koskamp – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
P.H.M. Jennen – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
L. Thijssen – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
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Abstract
This research examines the complexities of assessing environmental performance in the context of building design, focusing on the balance between CO₂ sequestration and embodied energy. Central to this study is the development of a model designed to maximize carbon uptake and minimize the embodied energy of buildings. Key results include the identification of critical parameters, such as the extension of a building's lifespan and its relationship with environmental impact, as well as the crucial balance between CO₂ and embodied energy. The model emphasizes the importance of these parameters, with particular attention to the lack of data on life cycle energy and its impact on carbon accounting. The methodology involves the identification and critical evaluation of these parameters, and Dutch databases, such as the Nationale Milieu Database (NMD) and calculation methods like the MPG, transforming them into a model for practical application within the design process. This study concludes that extending a building’s lifespan plays a significant role in reducing its carbon footprint over time, and that transparent, standardized methodologies and comprehensive data collection are essential to optimize the environmental impact of building designs.