The construction sector as one of the highest carbon emitters in the World has an
international initiative for GHG reduction. Green building certifications demonstrate
performance, efficiency and economy in the construction sector. The motivation of
the research was to investigate whether Green certified buildings which fulfill the
minimum energy standards do demonstrate high energy performance compared to energy
efficient buildings and renewable systems. The hypothesis was to investigate that
RES application could contribute to higher performance, against a typical efficient
HVAC system (usually applied in commercial buildings) and a building aiming for Green
certification, concerning mandatory energy efficiency requirement. The research scope
was to investigate and evaluate various HVAC solutions using triple-criteria evaluation
method for decarbonization: energy performance, carbon footprint, and operation cost
to formulate systematic solutions in the design phase of projects for wide audience
with preferable and applicable results.
