Cost and benefit of energy efficient buildings
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2006.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | eng |
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2007
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36819 |
| _version_ | 1811074479375253504 |
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| author | Zhang, Wenying, S.B. Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| author2 | Leon R. Glicksman. |
| author_facet | Leon R. Glicksman. Zhang, Wenying, S.B. Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| author_sort | Zhang, Wenying, S.B. Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2006. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T09:50:05Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | mit-1721.1/36819 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T09:50:05Z |
| publishDate | 2007 |
| publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/368192019-04-10T15:21:22Z Cost and benefit of energy efficient buildings Zhang, Wenying, S.B. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Leon R. Glicksman. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Mechanical Engineering. Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2006. Includes bibliographical references. A common misconception among developers and policy-makers is that "sustainable buildings" may not be financially justified. However, this report strives to show that building green is cost-effective and does make financial sense today. Though green buildings typically have a higher upfront cost compared to conventional constructions, they do offer benefits that simply built-to-code projects lack. These benefits include cost savings from reduced energy and water use, less waste production, diminished environmental and emissions costs, lower operations and maintenance costs, and enhanced occupant productivity and health. These values range from being fairly predictable (energy and water savings can be recorded over time) to relatively uncertain (productivity/health benefits are somewhat arbitrary and subjective). Based on a 20-year Net Present Value analysis with a 5% real interest rate, a recent study by the California Sustainable Energy Task Force showed the total financial benefits of green design to be $50/ft2 - $75/ft2, depending on the building's level of LEED Certification. This number is over ten times bigger than the average 2% cost premium calculated for the 33 green buildings they analyzed-about $3-5/ft in California. (cont.) Energy savings alone, from reduced energy demand and decreased peak load, was calculated to be $5.79, which already exceeds the cost premium. Conservative calculations based on a study on Norway building retrofits show that the cost of energy savings ranges from 1-4 cents/kWh. Comparing this number to the cost of various modes of electricity generation, ranging from 3-80 cents/kWh, it is clear that the cost of generating electricity greatly exceeds the cost of saving energy through energy efficient buildings. Thus, green buildings are cost effective and should be more widely adopted. by Wenying Zhang. S.B. 2007-03-12T17:56:45Z 2007-03-12T17:56:45Z 2006 2006 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36819 82370718 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 45 leaves application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| spellingShingle | Mechanical Engineering. Zhang, Wenying, S.B. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cost and benefit of energy efficient buildings |
| title | Cost and benefit of energy efficient buildings |
| title_full | Cost and benefit of energy efficient buildings |
| title_fullStr | Cost and benefit of energy efficient buildings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cost and benefit of energy efficient buildings |
| title_short | Cost and benefit of energy efficient buildings |
| title_sort | cost and benefit of energy efficient buildings |
| topic | Mechanical Engineering. |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36819 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhangwenyingsbmassachusettsinstituteoftechnology costandbenefitofenergyefficientbuildings |