Modelling and quantitation of embodied, operational and mobile energies of buildings: a holistic review from 2012 to 2021

Abstract

Purpose

This paper proposes an intact framework for building life cycle energy estimation (LCEE), which includes three major energy sources: embodied, operational and mobile.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review is conducted to summarize the selected 109 studies published during 2012–2021 related to quantifying building energy consumption and its major estimation methodologies, tools and key influence parameters of three energy sources.

Findings

Results show that the method limitations and the variety of potential parameters lead to significant energy estimation errors. An in-depth qualitative discussion is conducted to identify research knowledge gaps and future directions.

Originality/value

With societies and economies developing rapidly across the world, a large amount of energy is consumed at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, its huge environmental impacts have forced many countries to take energy issues as urgent social problems to be solved. Even though the construction industry, as the one of most important carbon contributors, has been constantly and academically active, researchers still have not arrived at a clear consensus for system boundaries of life cycle energy. Besides, there is a significant difference between the actual and estimated values in countless current and advanced energy estimation approaches in the literature.

Citation

Tam, V.W.Y., Liu, L. and Le, K.N. (2023), "Modelling and quantitation of embodied, operational and mobile energies of buildings: a holistic review from 2012 to 2021", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 30 No. 9, pp. 4045-4079. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-01-2022-0050