Development of an Nearly Zero Emission Building (nZEB) Life Cycle Cost Assessment Tool for Fast Decision Making in the Early Design Phase

An economic feasibility optimization method for the life cycle cost (LCC) has been developed to apply energy saving techniques in the early design stages of a building. The method was developed using default data (e.g., operation schedules), energy consumption prediction equations and cost prediction equations utilizing design variables considered in the early design phase. With certain equations developed, an LCC model was constructed using the computational program MATLAB, to create an automated optimization process. To verify the results from the newly developed assessment tool, a case study on an office building was performed to outline the results of the designer’s proposed model and the cost optimal model