Life cycle carbon emission assessment and carbon payback period analysis for the regeneration of old residential areas in cold regions: Case study in Qingdao, China

• Published in: Sustainable cities and society Vol. 115; p. 105860
• Main Authors: Sun, Baodi, Zhong, Chenghao, Yu, Dehu, Han, Qing, Tang, Jingchao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.11.2024
• Subjects: Carbon emissions; Carbon reduction; Life cycle assessment; Payback period method; The regeneration of old residential areas; Life cycle assessment; The regeneration of old residential areas; Payback period method; Carbon reduction; Carbon emissions
• ISSN: 2210-6707
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2024.105860

•A model for assessing carbon emission of the renovation of old residential areas.•Carbon emissions and carbon reductions were assessed and analyzed based on LCA.•The impact of embodied carbon on the carbon reduction efficiency was measured.•Suggesting carbon payback period as an assessment indicator for low-carbon. Communities urgently need to explore green and low-carbon transformation pathways due to high energy consumption and carbon emissions. However, existing studies lack a comprehensive assessment of carbon emissions and analysis regarding carbon reduction during renovation of old residential areas in cold regions. Therefore, this study employs a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the payback period method to evaluate carbon emissions throughout the life cycle comprehensively. It constructs a carbon-emission calculation model based on LCA, specifically tailored to the retrofitting of old residential areas in cold cities. Additionally, it investigates the effectiveness of three typical retrofit measures undertaken in Qingdao, a region located in the cold A zone, focusing on whole-life-cycle energy savings and carbon reduction. The findings reveal that the average annual carbon emission intensity per unit area for Cases 1, 2, and 3 is 12.59 kg-CO2 e/(m2·a), 27.05 kg-CO2 e/(m2·a), and 23.39 kg-CO2 e/(m2·a), respectively. Their corresponding carbon payback periods were 6.06, 7.23, and 16.00 years, respectively, which could be further shortened through material recycling. The environmental impact assessment of typical retrofitting measures contributes to the promotion of sustainable development. Furthermore, this study offers guidance for establishing an effective assessment system that supports the design of energy-saving retrofits.