Integration of building science and data science to de-risk an affordable strategy for building decarbonisation

Abstract

The tools and technology today enable building owners to achieve very low energy consumption and healthy building performance without spending a premium in construction costs. Unacceptable levels of carbon emission, fuel poverty, inequitable indoor air quality, pandemics, and poor outdoor air quality demand that we change the way we look at buildings. Irrespective of motivation, high-performance buildings are rapidly becoming table stakes in the discussion of sustainability or sustainable development. Experienced building owners have determined that aligning the financial, social and environmental goals of sustainable buildings is best achieved by integrating building science and data science, using key components of the data infrastructure that are outlined in this paper. New buildings are easier than existing buildings to address, because envelope-first design strategies can be utilised to deliver high performance and legacy operational technology systems do not have to be mitigated. Existing buildings remain the challenge for most developers and building owners. The decarbonisation strategy outlined in this paper has been proven to cost-effectively address the contemporary demands on new and existing buildings.