Life-cycle cost analysis on glass type of high-rise buildings for increasing energy efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions in Korea

As the heights of high-rise buildings increase, their building area and elevation area also increase, consequently increasing their yearly energy consumption. Energy efficiency has become an even more important issue, especially when glass is used for a building's exterior. In this study, the life-cycle cost (LCC) of the exterior glass of high-rise buildings was analyzed from the perspective of energy efficiency and CO2 emissions. First, the LCC was analyzed according to changes in the selected types of glass. Reflective + Low-E (Type 1), double Low-E + Argon (Type 2), and triple Low-E + Argon (Type 3), which satisfy green building certification criteria and were used in the past for high-rise buildings in Korea, were selected as the exterior glass types. These types of exterior glass were applied to a case building and compared with the Low-E glass that was the existing glass type of a case building. The economic benefit of selected glasses for 40 years was greater in the order of Type 1, Type 3, and Type 2 compared to the existing glass. Second, these types of glass were applied to each orientation of the building. By changing the glass according to building orientation it is shown that in the east, west, and north, Type 1 was most economical, whereas Type 3 was most economical in the south. The results of this study will contribute to the improvement of energy efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, and cost efficiency of future high-rise buildings.