Life cycle assessment for carbon emission impact analysis for the renovation of old residential areas

Urban residential buildings are the prime contributors to carbon emissions , whose reduction is significantly affected by old residential areas as essential components of urban renewal. In current studies on the potential for carbon reduction in residential localities, the measurement standard mostly used is the amount of carbon reduced during operations because of the energy-saving renovation of building monomers . This study conducted a life cycle assessment for the carbon emission impact analysis of the renovation of old residential areas, with a comprehensive consideration of carbon emissions at the materialization, demolition, and use stages of the renovation process. Five systems in these areas were evaluated: landscape greening, building monomers, water resources, solid waste, and infrastructure. An actual residential renovation case was used as a reference in comparing the life cycle carbon reduction effects of different technical measures. The results showed that carbon reduction effects are overestimated by 5.54% (from 29.59% to 35.13%) when embodied carbon is disregarded. Among the renovation measures , adding green spaces, recycling garbage, and replacing energy-saving lamps in public areas offer short carbon payback, whereas the addition of rooftop solar photovoltaic panels is the most efficient carbon-reduction measure. This study completes and expands the scope of accounting for residential renovation from spatial and temporal scales. It can also guide the low-carbon renovation of old residential areas to help cities save energy and reduce emissions. • The emission impact accounting method for the residential renovation was established. • If embodied carbon emissions are not considered, the reduction will be overestimated. • Measures to reduce carbon emissions include solar PV, greening addition, etc.