Date of Award
5-2010
Degree Name
Master of Science in Engineering
Department
Civil and Construction Engineering
First Advisor
Dr. Haluk Aktan
Second Advisor
Dr. Osama Abudayyeh
Third Advisor
Dr. Ahmed Jrade
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Yufeng Hu
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Campus Only
Abstract
Life-cycle cost analysis is considered an important study in the feasibility phase of a building, and may be cause changes in decisions. Currently, life-cycle systems do not focus on illustrating the impact of adding renewable energy sources in a building's lifecycle cost and optimize the benefit cost. When a renewable energy source is used, it adds initial and future costs in addition to operation and maintenance costs. However, it is not clear how decision makers can minimize cost and maximize benefit without creating more alternatives. A computer model has been developed to draw a scenario for the lifecycle cost with different types of renewable energy.
This thesis aims to study the impact of using renewable energy on the cost of a building's execution and life-cycle. The study targeted the feasibility stage, where a computer model was developed to help decision makers compare alternatives and the establishment and operation costs before proceeding with design. The model is designed to estimate construction cost, energy and water consumption and cost, solar and wind power production and cost, import data to be processed from BIM systems: Graphisoft® ArchiCAD, Autodesk® Revit, and Bentley® Architecture. Also, the model can locate utilitiy prices and renewable sources. In hope that will guide investors in making decisions for sustainably built environments on a solid scientific basis.
Recommended Citation
Al Ghamdi, Sami Ghurmullah, "A Computer Model for Sustainable for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis" (2010). Masters Theses. 306.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/306