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EES1101: Research Paper in Environmental Science

Net Zero Energy Building Framework - A Abu-Ravash

Full title:

Development and Assessment of a Net Zero Energy Framework for Buildings

Author:

Azzam Abu-Rayash

Supervisor:

Abstract:

Energy consumption of facilities in the institutional, industrial, and commercial sectors contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). In fact, the building sector accounts for more than 40% of CO2 in the United States. In Canada, space heating in buildings is the main commodity that results in significant emissions due to its heavy reliance on fossil fuels. The objective of this study is to develop a net zero energy decision making framework that can be used to assess and prioritize energy projects. This framework will take into consideration various parameters including the energy performance, environmental impact, sustainability, economic and social impacts as well as life cycle impacts. In addition, this study models a net zero energy building using a novel district energy system and applies the net zero energy framework to assess the modelled system compared to business as usual. Technoeconmic and lifecycle assessment results of the 6G district energy system show a substantial reduction in annual GHG emissions of 82% compared to the BAU system along with a 58% ROI and $140,796 in energy savings. The study also introduces an enabling policy framework that guides the integration and development of district energy in the Durham region.

Arctic Climate Model Projections Variability - J Wiens

Full title:

Impact of Internal Variability on Climate Model Projections in the Arctic

Author:

Justin Wiens

Supervisor:

Abstract:

This study uses the Community Earth System Model Large Ensemble (CESM-LE) to estimate the impact of internal variability on climate model projections for Arctic 2-metre air temperature change, Arctic amplification factor, the strength of Arctic feedbacks, and meridional energy transport changes between the 1981-2005 and 1920-1944 time periods. Ensemble members of CESM-LE differ only in round-off differences in their atmospheric initial conditions, meaning the spread across CESM-LE ensemble members is an estimate of the spread due to internal variability. This study finds a CESM-LE spread in annual-mean Arctic 2-metre air temperature change of 0.88 K and a seasonal spread ranging from 0.59 K in JJA to 1.49 K in DJF. The CESM-LE spread in annual-mean Arctic amplification factor is 2.35, with a seasonal spread ranging from 1.85 in JJA to 4.24 in DJF. For the warming contributions of Arctic feedbacks and Arctic meridional energy transports, the albedo feedback warming contribution has the largest CESM-LE spread and the water vapour feedback warming contribution has the smallest CESM-LE spread. The full CESM-LE spread for the albedo feedback warming contribution is 0.63 K and the full CESM-LE spread for the water vapour feedback warming contribution is 0.10 K. This study also finds that annually, in DJF, in MAM, and in SON, the most important contributors to the variance in Arctic 2-metre air temperature change and Arctic amplification factor across CESM-LE ensemble members are the Arctic lapse rate feedback and Arctic albedo feedback warming contributions. In JJA, the Arctic albedo feedback and Arctic atmospheric heat transport warming contributions are the most important contributors to the variance in Arctic 2-metre air temperature change and Arctic amplification factor across CESM-LE ensemble members. Consistent with other studies, this study finds no statistically significant correlation between annual meridional energy transport warming contributions and both annual Arctic 2-metre air temperature change and annual Arctic amplification factor. However, in JJA, meridional energy transport warming contributions have especially strong correlations with both Arctic 2-metre air temperature change and annual Arctic amplification factor.