Approaches to Energy Efficient Building Development – Studying under Chinese Contexts Zhenhong Gu Licentiate thesis Industrial Ecology School of Industrial Engineering and Management Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm, October 2007 Title: Approaches to Energy Efficient Building Development – Studying under Chinese Contexts Author: Zhenhong Gu Registration: ISSN 1402 - 7615 TRITA-IM 2007:23 Published by: Royal Institute of Technology School of Industrial Engineering and Management Division of Industrial Ecology SE – 100 44 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN Phone: (+46) 8 790 87 93 (distribution) (+46) 8 790 87 61 (author) Fax: (+46) 8 790 50 34 E-mail:[email protected] Print by: Universitetsservice US AB, Stockholm, Sweden, 2007 Abstract This thesis presents a general description of approaches to energy efficient building development under Chinese contexts. The purpose of the work is to discuss how Chinese building development can be approved from an energy saving perspective. Building development is a complicated process that relates to many stakeholders’ interests. The developed countries have studied in this field extensively for several decades. Generally, the approaches to energy saving can be set at three levels: administration, construction industry and architectural design. More new strict codes for energy efficient buildings are being issued for enforcement. At the same time, many research institutes have developed Building Environmental Assessment (BEA) methods, where energy efficiency is an important factor in the models. Various technical solutions for energy efficiency are developed as well. The administrative approaches are not the main objective discussed in the thesis, though the importance of them is undeniable. BEA systems are not only assessment methods, but also market- based stimulating approaches for sustainability of construction market. Technical methods have been developed for a long period. Passive House and Low Exergy (LowEx) Systems are two representative examples in European countries. All of these approaches are relatively unfamiliar to Chinese architects and developers, let alone their effect and applicability. The thesis tries to analyse this situation and their applicability within Chinese context. In China to a certain project, the importance of technical issues is relatively recognized. However, a few successful individual cases in technique can not change the reality that most of new building development has failed in energy efficiency in China. This is a serious situation when China is in an enormous expansion phase in building new houses. The thesis tries to discuss the reasons for this phenomenon. One reason could be that the stakeholders in the developing process are not aware of the importance of collaboration which is the only method to get “Both Win” according to Game theory. The thesis discusses a paradigm to replace two traditional linear paradigms in building developing process. Architects should act as coordinators of different stakeholders rather than technical supporters. The thesis tries to discuss the propositional route of developing energy efficient buildings. Technical approaches are basic research, which presents the concepts that have been proved realizable; BEA encourages developers to develop more energy efficient buildings for economic benefit, which will make good demonstrations for whole market; national laws and policies are final approaches, which ensure that every project will have good performance of energy efficiency. When the old standardization and legislation are finished, a new cycle will begin with more advanced techniques. China government has started the progress to enhance energy efficiency. However, this process will be tough and slow. The thesis discusses Chinese special conditions and the problems that cry out for solution in the future. Keywords: Energy efficiency, China, Passive House, Low Exergy system, Built Environmental Assessment, LCA, Swedish housing, Hammarby Sjöstad, Eco-village, Game theory, System theory, Soft Systems Methodology i Acknowledgements This research results from the cooperation between Industrial Ecology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden, and Architectural School, Southeast University (SEU), China. As a part of the cooperation, some Chinese young teachers came to Sweden to attend in advanced courses. In autumn 2004, as one of these students, I came to KTH to begin the doctoral program under the direction of my supervisor, Prof. Ronald Wennersten, the head of Industrial Ecology. Prof. Ronald Wennersten realized the contrast between advanced technologies and unsatisfactory developing status of building development, which shows the importance of social aspects. Without appropriate mechanisms, technologies are only theoretical but unfeasible. He had worked in the field of mechanisms of sustainable development, including environmental assessment, risk management, and water management of communities, for a long time. I have been fortunate enough to work with him. His intelligent and acute comments have inspired me. I am grateful for his important guidance and help. Dr. Getachew Assefa and Prof. Dick Urban Vestbro at School of Architecture and Built Environment, KTH helped me to improve the papers and gave me valuable guidance. Ester Galli has helped me to perfect the structure of thesis and language corrections. I appreciate your collaboration. My sincere gratitude goes to all my colleagues at Industrial Ecology, KTH and Architectural School, SEU, for their valuable comments, support and friendship. Prof. Dongqing Han, Prof. Wei Dong and Prof. Tong Zhang introduced and guided me to study at KTH. Karin Orve, the Education Administrator of the Industrial Ecology at KTH, has untiringly provided me warm assistance. Kosta Wallin has kept my most important working tool, the computer and printer, in order. Xingqiang Song, Xiangjun Wang and other colleagues present many important comments on my work. I am indebted to you all. My special gratitude goes to Yingfang He at International Office of KTH. During the period of my studying at Sweden, her warm help gave me homely feeling in a foreign land. I am grateful to you. My parents and wife always are my strong backers. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Finally I want to thank all of my collaborators and friends who have been supportive and helpful during my work. Thank you all. Stockholm, October 2007 Zhenhong Gu ii Outline and list of appended papers The outline of this thesis is based on four papers, which constitutes a flow of how this research has developed. The three first papers form a base for the fourth and final article where a preliminary study on the approaches to energy efficient building development. Paper one describes the sustainability assessment of residential areas and sustainable building design within Chinese context. Paper two compares two methods of energy efficient house and the implemental discussion in China. Paper three carry out a sensitivity analysis of most widely used building environmental assessment methods. These two papers describe the technical methods of energy efficient buildings. Paper four compares two housing paradigms in Sweden and presents the developing strategies to energy efficient housing development within Chinese context combined with game theory and Swedish experiences. I. Gu, ZH., Wang, XJ., Wennersten, R., and Dong, W. (2005) Sustainability Assessment of Residential Areas and Sustainable Building Design in China, the 3rd international conference of the International Society for Industrial Ecology. I described the situation of current sustainability assessment tools and sustainable buildings, presented potential ideas to be developed in China. I wrote parts of the paper. II. Gu, ZH., Wennersten, R. (2006) Comparison of Two Methods of Energy Efficient Houses: Implemental Discussion in China, Conference Proceedings, 10th international Passive House conference. I carried out the literature survey, the comparison of two methods of energy efficient houses and wrote the paper. III. Gu, ZH., Wennersten, R., Assefa, G. (2006) Analysis of the most widely used Building Environmental Assessment methods, Environmental Sciences September 2006; 3(3): pp. 175 – 192. I carried out the literature survey, the comparison of the BEA methods, made the diagrams, and wrote the paper. IV. Gu, ZH., Wennersten, R. (2006) A study about Chinese developing strategies to energy efficient housing development in architect’s perspective, combined with Swedish experiences and Game Theory, Submitted to Journal of Housing and the Built Environment. I presented the strategies for energy efficient building development based on Swedish case studies and wrote the paper. iii List of abbreviations BEA Built Environmental Assessment BREEAM BRE Environmental Assessment Method HVAC Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning LCA Life Cycle Assessment LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEH Low-energy House LowEx Low Exergy NABERS National Australian Built Environment Rating System RH Relative Humidity SSM Soft Systems Methodology USGBC U.S. Green Building Council iv Table of contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................ i Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................. ii Outline and list of appended papers ...................................................................................................iii