Assessing Potential for Reduction in Carbon Emissions in a Multi-unit of Residential Development in Sydney

Abstract There is an increase in the construction of multi-unit residential buildings around inner Sydney in the past few years. The energy consumption in Australia has increased by approximately 30% and associated carbon dioxide emissions. This research examines a large multi-unit residential case study located close to the Sydney's Central Business District (CBD). Current energy consumption for the common areas such as the basement, car parks, lobbies, etc. and water usage for gardens are estimated using the actual data on electricity and water usage. Potential for reduction in energy consumption and their equivalent carbon footprint values are examined. Three carbon emissions reduction strategies include: savings from electricity generation from roof solar PV installation; rainwater harvesting from the roof and minimising annual water loss by evaporation in swimming pools reducing energy demand for water supply. In addition, carbon benefits provided by the trees are calculated using an urban forest assessment tool. Recommendations suggest that installation of solar PV on the roof, using an appropriate swimming pool cover, rainwater harvesting and a better tree canopy cover collectively could improve the overall CO 2 footprint performance of the selected case study.

[1]  J. Bielecki,et al.  Energy security: is the wolf at the door? , 2002 .

[2]  S. Solomon,et al.  Irreversible climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions , 2009, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[3]  J. Grönroos,et al.  Comparison of impacts of human activities and climate change on water quantity and quality in Finnish agricultural catchments , 2015, Landscape Ecology.

[4]  Roger G. Stone,et al.  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report , 2010 .

[5]  J. Iwaro,et al.  A review of building energy regulation and policy for energy conservation in developing countries , 2010 .

[6]  Y. P. Yadav,et al.  Transient Performance of Indoor Swimming Pool Heating by Solar Energy , 2017 .

[7]  Grace Ding.  STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT - THE CHALLENGES FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY , 2013 .

[8]  Tooraj Jamasb,et al.  Security of supply and regulation of energy networks , 2008 .

[9]  L. Oman,et al.  Impact of future nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions on the stratospheric ozone layer , 2015 .

[10]  L. Head,et al.  Retrofitting the Suburban Garden: morphologies and some elements of sustainability potential of two Australian residential suburbs compared , 2009 .

[11]  Niall Finn,et al.  THE BENEFITS OF SHADECLOTH COVERS FOR POTABLE WATER STORAGES , 2007 .

[12]  P. Nunes.  Towards a European Strategy for the security of energy supply , 2002 .

[13]  J.L.A. Francey,et al.  Low-cost solar heating of community pools using pool covers , 1980 .

[14]  Anil Kumar Tiwari,et al.  Feasibility of earth heat storage for all weather conditioning of open swimming pool water , 2013 .