An integrated approach towards energy performance and circularity in buildings

Abstract

The built environment consumes 50% of all raw materials, 40% of the total energy and 30% of the total water, in the Netherlands. As climate change looms over and threatens our physical environment, the EU and consequently the Dutch government has proposed multiple stringent regulations to curb our unsustainable resource consumption habits and create a circular economy for the future. The realization of such an economy is currently hindered by the lack of availability of standardized design strategies and assessment methods. In comparison, a high energy performing building can be designed, assessed and operated by following the closely monitored Energy performance building directive initiated by the EU. The directive lays down stringent goals to be achieved in the built environment every few years. This imbalance leads to the development of a fast-paced energy efficient building stock with circular economy ambitions lagging behind. Addressing this gap, this research focuses on creating and testing an assessment method that measures the energy performance and circularity of a building in an integrated manner, to ensure the equal development of both aspects. In this process, data on new buildings are gathered using which the circular intentions and consequent measures incorporated in these buildings to meet the current building regulations are tracked, resulting in a set of design guidelines for improving the combined energetic and circular performance of a building.