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Enabling energy-efficient renovation: the case of vertical extension to buildings

Rikard Sundling (Department of Construction Management, Lunds Universitet, Lund, Sweden)
Åke Blomsterberg (Department of Energy and Building Design, Lunds Universitet, Lund, Sweden)
Anne Landin (Department of Construction Management, Lunds Universitet, Lund, Sweden)

Construction Innovation

ISSN: 1471-4175

Article publication date: 13 November 2018

Issue publication date: 5 March 2019

487

Abstract

Purpose

This paper is based on a study of six similar buildings built in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1971, which were in urgent need of renovation. A life cycle profit analysis shows how four competing concepts were evaluated to find a financially viable renovation concept; additionally, the environmental impacts of these renovation concepts using a life cycle assessment are presented.

Design/methodology/approach

Four renovation concepts are compared to find the most appropriate concept, namely, minimalist, code-compliant, low-energy and low-energy plus vertical extension concepts. The methods used for comparison are life cycle profit analysis and life cycle impact assessment; the methods used for data gathering included site visits, interviews, document study, co-benefits study and energy simulation.

Findings

The findings show that vertical extension supported the energy-efficient renovation of the buildings and that the combination of low-energy and the vertical extension had the highest return on investment and the lowest environmental impact. The selected concept for renovating the remaining five buildings combined was the low-energy plus vertical extension. Additional benefits from vertical extension include more apartments in central locations for the housing company, a wider variety of apartment layouts and a wider range of tenants. Drawbacks include increased use of infrastructure, green space and common appliances, as well as gentrification.

Originality/value

This study shows how a vertical extension can financially enable an energy-efficient renovation and further lower its environmental impact. Benefits and drawbacks of densification are also highlighted to better understand the implementation of vertically extending a building.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Swedish Energy Agency for funding this research. The collaboration with the municipal housing company, Poseidon Bostads AB, have been fruitful. Special thanks goes to Catrine Gerle, the project manager during the renovation of the first building, for her time and help. The authors would also like to thank the participants of the IEA EBC Annex 56 project for their collaboration and a successful project.

Citation

Sundling, R., Blomsterberg, Å. and Landin, A. (2020), "Enabling energy-efficient renovation: the case of vertical extension to buildings", Construction Innovation, Vol. 19 No. 1, pp. 2-14. https://doi.org/10.1108/CI-04-2018-0034

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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