Dell'Anna, F; Bottero, M; Becchio, C; Corgnati, S P and Mondini, G (2020) Designing a decision support system to evaluate the environmental and extra-economic performances of a nearly zero-energy building. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 9(4), pp. 413-442. ISSN 2046-6099
Abstract
Purpose: The cost-optimal analysis is not able to address the multi-dimensionality of the decision according to the new European objectives and International sustainable development goals in the field of the nearly-zero energy building (NZEB) design. The purpose of this paper is to study the role of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) for guiding energy investment decisions. Design/methodology/approach: The paper explores the Preference ranking organization method for enrichment of evaluations II (PROMETHEE II) application to support the project of transforming a rural building into a NZEB. The evaluation provides an estimate of the effects of alternative energy efficiency measures, involving energy consumption, life cycle costs, carbon emissions, property value and indoor comfort criteria. The study performs a multi-actors analysis in order to understand how different consumers' point of views can influence the final choice of the best investment. Furthermore, a multi-site analysis explores the spatial variation of NZEB building appreciation in the real estate market. Findings: The PROMETHEE II-based model ranks 16 alternative solutions for the NZEB according to energy, economic and extra-economic criteria. The multi-actors analysis highlights the configuration of the NZEB building that best meets the needs of different end-users, respecting the European directives and national standards. The multi-site analysis concludes that location does not change users' appreciation and not influence the output for the best solution. Originality/value: The MCDA occurs as a support tool that helps to optimize the preliminary design phase of NZEB through the exploration of the optimal solution considering crucial criteria in the energy and environmental and real estate market rules.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | co-benefit; decision support systems; economic analysis; energy systems; multi-criteria decision analysis; promethee method |
| Index terms: | exploration, methodology, variation, zero-energy building, configuration, preference, economic analysis, preliminary design, site analysis, nearly zero-energy building, decision support, property value, life cycle cost, alternative energy, energy system, energy consumption, real estate, comfort, sustainable development goal, multi-criteria decision analysis, estimate, investment decision, efficiency, carbon emission |
| Subjects: | contractual condition, sustainable design, performance management, research methods, decision-making and reasoning, design practice, energy efficiency, systems engineering, decision analysis, occupational health and safety management, climate science, digital engineering, economic analysis, financial and cost management, energy systems, real estate economics, design analysis, sustainability and energy, environmental resource management |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Risk Management, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Contract Administration, Quality Management, Design Practice, Urban Studies, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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