Transition to Zero Energy and Low Carbon Emission in Residential Buildings Located in Tropical and Temperate Climates

Abstract

Different methods to achieve zero-energy and low carbon on the scale of a building are shown by most of the research works. Despite this, the recommendations generally offered by researchers do not always correspond to the realities found during the construction of new buildings in a determined region. Therefore, a standard may not be valid in all climate regions of the world. Being aware of this fact, a study was carried out to analyse the design of new buildings respecting the “zero-energy and low carbon emission” concept in tropical climatic regions when they are compared with a base case of temperate regions. To reach this objective, the comparison between real and simulated data from the different buildings studied was developed. The results showed that the renovation of existing residential buildings allows for reducing up to 35% of energy demand and a great quantity of CO2 emissions in both climate types. Despite this, the investment rate linked to the construction of zero-energy buildings in tropical zones is 12 times lower than in temperate zones and the payback was double. In particular, this effect can be related to the efficiency of photovoltaic panels, which is estimated to be, at least, 34% higher in tropical zones than temperate zones. Finally, this study highlights the interest and methodology to implement zero-energy buildings in tropical regions.

Evaluation of energy consumption and CO₂ emission in a standard traditional building located in tropical region, a case of Madagascar Island

“…Very interesting results have been found in this study. The most of findings confirmed the results found in [3].…”

“…The strong variation of the carbon rate, is perhaps due especially to the behavior of the occupants. In the literature, several studies showed the important of occupant's behavior on the increase of CO2 in a residential building [3].…”

“…Currently, the building sector consumes up to 40% of total energy and produces almost 35% of the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere [1,2]. However, the increase in average temperatures on the earth's surface is the direct consequence of massive greenhouse gas emissions [3]. Based on this value, it is easy to deduce that this sector plays an important role in the evolution of the external climate.…”

Prediction of daily global solar radiation and air temperature using six machine learning algorithms; a case of 27 European countries

“…Others research presented the similar results, but with different period of comparison (An et al, 2020; M.K. Nematchoua et al Morkovkin et al, 2020;Nematchoua et al, 2019b;Nematchoua et al, 2019f;Nematchoua et al, 2020;Nematchoua et al, 2021a;Nematchoua et al, 2021b). The Fig.…”

Special Issue “Energy Transition and Environmental Sustainability”

“…In 'Transition to Zero Energy and Low Carbon Emission in Residential Buildings Located in Tropical and Temperate Climates', the authors Modeste Kameni Nematchoua, José A. Orosa, Paola Ricciardi, Esther Obonyo, Eric Jean Roy Sambatra and Sigrid Reiter [10] analysed the design of new buildings with respect to the "zero-energy and low carbon emission" concept in tropical climatic regions in comparison with temperate zones. The results showed that the renovation of existing residential buildings facilitates a reduction of up to 35% of energy demand and a great quantity of CO 2 emissions in both climate zones; however, the investment rate linked to the construction of zero-energy buildings in tropical zones is 12 times lower than in temperate zones, and the payback was double.…”