Alyssa Pfadt-Trilling
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Supplementary Information for: The Greenhouse Gas Burden of Weatherizing Northern US Homes and Estimated Lifetime Energy Savings
This notebook models the life cycle GHG emissions per kWh and per house (denoted the upfront GHG burden) for 3 weatherization types:
Weatherized Windows- Baseline impact, impact sensitivity, Old U-value sensitivity, New U-value sensitivity, lifetime sensitivity
Wall Insulation- Baseline impact, house area sensitivity, insulation thermal conductivity sensitivity, lifetime sensitivity
Attic Insulation- Baseline impact, house area sensitivity, lifetime sensitivity, thermal conductivity sensitivity*
Acronyms:
EPS= Expanded polystyrene
XPS= Extruded polystyrene
PVC= Polyvinyl chloride
AFUE= Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency
CDD: Cooling Degree Days
HDD: Heating Degree Days
ACEER: Air conditioner energy efficiency ratio
ECC= Electric heating + Central AC
EW= Electric heating + Window AC
GCC= Gas heating + Central AC
GW= Gas heating +Window AC
​
To run: click Evaluation->Evaluate Notebook
In[]:=
Out[]=
Insulation Scenario
baseline Depth (m)
minimum thermal conductivity depth
max thermal conductivity depth
Attic EPS
0.195491
0.179641
0.23776
Attic XPS
0.200775
0.16379
0.232476
Attic Recycled Cellulose
0.232476
0.211342
0.264178
Wall EPS
0.130328
0.11976
0.158507
Wall XPS
0.13385
0.109193
0.154984
Wall Recycled Cellulose
0.154984
0.140895
0.176118
In[]:=
Out[]=
Wall Insulation Type
Space Conditioning Scenario
Total Energy Avoided [kWh]
Recycled Cellulose
ECC
185715.
Recycled Cellulose
EW
185735.
Recycled Cellulose
GCC
214850.
Recycled Cellulose
GW
214869.
XPS
ECC
185715.
XPS
EW
185735.
XPS
GCC
214850.
XPS
GW
214869.
EPS
ECC
185715.
EPS
EW
185735.
EPS
GCC
214850.
EPS
GW
214869.
Out[]=
Wall Insulation Scenario
Cradle-to-Gate Baseline Impact g CO2eq/Kwh avoided
Recycled Cellulose ECC
2.16502
Recycled Cellulose EW
2.16479
Recycled Cellulose GCC
1.87144
Recycled Cellulose GW
1.87127
XPS ECC
15.8686
XPS EW
15.8669
XPS GCC
13.7168
XPS GW
13.7155
EPS ECC
5.56262
EPS EW
5.56204
EPS GCC
4.80831
EPS GW
4.80788
Out[]=
Wall Insulation Type
Baseline Upfront GHG Burden g CO2eq/house
Recycled Cellulose
402077.
EPS
1.03306×
6
10
XPS
2.94704×
6
10
Out[]=
Wall Insulation Type
Sensitivity result at min house area
Sensitivity result at max house area
Baseline Upfront GHG burden g CO2 eq/house
% deviation from baseline result at min house area
% deviation from baseline result at max house area
​
Recycled Cellulose
237212.
524901.
402077.
-41.0035
30.5473
​
EPS
609472.
1.34864×
6
10
1.03306×
6
10
-41.0035
30.5473
​
XPS
1.73865×
6
10
3.84728×
6
10
2.94704×
6
10
-41.0035
30.5473
​
Out[]=
Wall Insulation Type
Sensitivity result at min thermal conductivity
Sensitivity result at max thermal conductivity
Baseline Upfront GHG burden
% deviation from baseline result at min k
% deviation from baseline result at max k
Recycled Cellulose
365525.
456906.
402077.
-9.09091
13.6364
EPS
949302.
1.25643×
6
10
1.03306×
6
10
-8.10811
21.6216
XPS
2.40416×
6
10
3.41236×
6
10
2.94704×
6
10
-18.4211
15.7895
Out[]=
Wall Insulation Scenario
Sensitivity result at min. lifetime
Sensitivity result at max lifetime
Baseline Impact per kWh avoided g CO2eq/ kWh
% deviation from baseine result to min lifetime
% deviation from baseline result to max lifetime
Recycled Cellulose ECC
4.21765
1.05441
2.16502
94.8087
-51.2978
Recycled Cellulose EW
4.21266
1.05317
2.16479
94.5987
-51.3503
Recycled Cellulose GCC
3.6586
0.914649
1.87144
95.4968
-51.1258
Recycled Cellulose GW
3.65485
0.913711
1.87127
95.3139
-51.1715
EPS ECC
10.8365
2.70912
5.56262
94.8087
-51.2978
EPS EW
10.8237
2.70592
5.56204
94.5987
-51.3503
EPS GCC
9.40009
2.35002
4.80831
95.4968
-51.1258
EPS GW
9.40009
2.35002
4.80788
95.5144
-51.1214
XPS ECC
30.9134
7.72835
15.8686
94.8087
-51.2978
XPS EW
30.8769
7.71921
15.8669
94.5987
-51.3503
XPS GCC
26.8158
6.70395
13.7168
95.4968
-51.1258
XPS GW
26.7883
6.69708
13.7155
95.3139
-51.1715
Out[]=
Wall Insulation Scenario
Sensitivity result at min k
Sensitivity result at max k
Baseline impact per kWh avoided g CO2eq/kWh
Recycled Cellulose ECC
2.10882
2.10882
2.16502
Recycled Cellulose EW
2.10633
2.10633
2.16479
Recycled Cellulose GCC
1.8293
1.8293
1.87144
Recycled Cellulose GW
1.82742
1.82742
1.87127
EPS ECC
5.41823
5.41823
5.56262
EPS EW
5.41183
5.41183
5.56204
EPS GCC
4.70005
4.70005
4.80831
EPS GW
4.69523
4.69523
4.80788
XPS ECC
12.5638
12.5638
15.8686
XPS EW
12.4547
12.4547
15.8669
XPS GCC
11.1757
11.1757
13.7168
XPS GW
11.0893
11.0893
13.7155
Out[]=
Wall Insulation Scenario
Sensitivity result at min house area
Sensitivity result at max house area
Baseline Impact per kWh avoided g CO2eq/ kWh
Recycled Cellulose ECC
3.57449
1.61537
2.16502
Recycled Cellulose EW
3.57026
1.61346
2.16479
Recycled Cellulose GCC
3.10069
1.40125
1.87144
Recycled Cellulose GW
3.09751
1.39982
1.87127
EPS ECC
9.18399
4.1504
5.56262
EPS EW
9.17314
4.14549
5.56204
EPS GCC
7.96665
3.60026
4.80831
EPS GW
7.95848
3.59657
4.80788
XPS ECC
21.2958
9.62392
15.8686
XPS EW
21.1109
9.54035
15.8669
XPS GCC
18.943
8.56065
13.7168
XPS GW
18.7965
8.49446
13.7155
Out[]=
Window Type
Space Conditioning System
Baseline kWh avoided
PVC
ECC
91832.7
PVC
EW
91941.4
PVC
GCC
105865.
PVC
GW
105974.
Wood
ECC
95506.
Wood
EW
95619.
Wood
GCC
110100.
Wood
GW
110213.
Steel
ECC
86690.1
Steel
EW
86792.6
Steel
GCC
99936.7
Steel
GW
100039.
Out[]=
Window Type
Sensitivity Result at min impact
Baseline Upfront GHG Burden g CO2 eq/house
Sensitivity result at max impact
% deviation from baseline result at min impact
% deviation from baseline result at max impact
PVC
1.62132×
6
10
2.5905×
6
10
4.94387×
6
10
-37.4129
90.8458
Wood
796483.
1.74247×
6
10
2.57504×
6
10
-54.2899
47.7811
Steel
2.86373×
6
10
4.35102×
6
10
5.69653×
6
10
-34.1825
30.9242
Out[]=
Window Type
Sensitivity result at min house area
Sensitivity result at max house area
Baseline Upfront GHG Burden
% deviation from baseline result to min house area
% deviation from baseline result to max house area
​
PVC
1.74087×
6
10
3.22347×
6
10
2.5905×
6
10
-32.7978
24.4342
​
Wood
1.17098×
6
10
2.16823×
6
10
1.74247×
6
10
-32.7978
24.4342
​
Steel
2.92398×
6
10
5.41415×
6
10
4.35102×
6
10
-32.7978
24.4342
​
Out[]=
Window Scenario
Sensitivity Result at U=1.5 W/sqm*K
Sensitivity Result at U=3 W/sqm*K
Baseline Result at U=2 W/sqm*K
PVC ECC
47.0149
15.6716
28.209
PVC EW
46.9594
15.6531
28.1756
PVC GCC
40.7831
13.5944
24.4698
PVC GW
40.7413
13.5804
24.4448
Steel ECC
87.0952
27.1673
50.1905
Steel EW
86.9923
27.1352
50.1312
Steel GCC
75.5508
23.5663
43.5377
Steel GW
75.4733
23.5421
43.4931
Wood ECC
29.6475
10.3122
18.2446
Wood EW
29.6124
10.3
18.223
Wood GCC
25.7177
8.94528
15.8263
Wood GW
25.6913
8.93611
15.81
Out[]=
{144124.,67823.2}
Out[]=
Window Scenario
Sensitivity result at min. new U-value
Sensitivity result at max. new U-value
Baseline impact per kWh avoided g CO2eq/kWh avoided
% deviation from baseline impact to min U-value
% deviation from baseline impact to max U-value
PVC ECC
20.7419
44.0765
28.209
-26.4706
56.25
PVC EW
20.7174
44.0244
28.1756
-26.4706
56.25
PVC GCC
17.9925
38.2341
24.4698
-26.4706
56.25
PVC GW
17.9741
38.1949
24.4448
-26.4706
56.25
Steel ECC
39.4832
68.866
50.1905
-21.3333
37.2093
Steel EW
39.4365
68.7846
50.1312
-21.3333
37.2093
Steel GCC
34.2497
59.7378
43.5377
-21.3333
37.2093
Steel GW
34.2146
59.6766
43.4931
-21.3333
37.2093
Wood ECC
13.1767
29.6475
18.2446
-27.7778
62.5
Wood EW
13.1611
29.6124
18.223
-27.7778
62.5
Wood GCC
11.4301
25.7177
15.8263
-27.7778
62.5
Wood GW
11.4184
25.6913
15.81
-27.7778
62.5
References:
2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) - CHAPTER 3 [CE] GENERAL REQUIREMENTS - C301.3 Climate zone definitions. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2025, from https://codes.iccsafe.org/s/IECC2021P3/chapter-3-ce-general-requirements/IECC2021P3-CE-Ch03-SecC301.3
Asdrubali, F., Roncone, M., & Grazieschi, G. (2021). Embodied Energy and Embodied GWP of Windows: A Critical Review. Energies 2021, Vol. 14, Page 3788, 14(13), 3788. https://doi.org/10.3390/EN14133788
Kunič, R. (2017). Carbon footprint of thermal insulation materials in building envelopes. Energy Efficiency, 10(6), 1511–1528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-017-9536-1
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