Life cycle energy analysis of buildings: A systematic review

Buildings consume a significant amount of energy and resources during all stages of their life cycle, causing enormous environmental impacts. Life cycle energy analysis is a holistic approach to estimating the energy performance of buildings with respect to their designed energy efficiency. This paper aims to ascertain the state of research on the life cycle energy analysis of buildings to formulate a strategic framework for reducing the energy footprint of the building sector. The study is conducted through the explorative method of research using a systematic review approach. The material for the systematic review is selected from five scientific databases through a rigorous and structured process. Findings indicate that the current methods of life cycle energy estimation are tedious and resource-intensive, requiring numerous, incomplete inventory databases and energy simulation tools that require a user interface. Moreover, the lack of explicit guidelines or standards for life cycle energy estimation causes large variations in the results, thus making the comparison between different studies unrealistic. Further, recent trends reveal the use of methods such as the multi-regional input-output method, multi-objective optimisation, multi-criteria decision-making, data analytics, and the increasing relevance of building information modelling (BIM) for energy calculations and evaluation of design alternatives. The review points to the urgent need for developing a comprehensive and integrated knowledge base and standards for life cycle energy analysis of buildings, starting from the early design stage. Finally, the study proposes a strategic framework for reducing energy demand in the building sector for stakeholder implementation.