Emissions and levelized cost of urban residential building heating: The Brussels perspective

Abstract

Residential building heating stands as a significant energy consumer with substantial environmental implications. To facilitate a sustainable transition, it is essential to assess the emissions and costs associated with current heating practices. This study investigates the economical and environmental aspects of residential building heating in the Brussels-Capital Region (BCR), Belgium. Employing a bottom-up methodology that integrates Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) certificates with specific emissions and cost data, the analysis evaluates the emissions (including direct and indirect greenhouse gases (GHG), NOx, SO2 and PM2.5) and the levelized cost of heat (LCOH) of the existing array of heating appliances in the BCR. The analysis reveals notable variations in emissions intensity and LCOH across diverse heating technologies, highlighting the intricate interplay between environmental sustainability and economic viability. Wood and electric-powered appliances demonstrate relatively low GHG emissions compared to fossil fuel appliances. Nonetheless, individual wood-fueled appliances exhibit elevated NOx and PM2.5 emissions compared to the current weighted average emissions intensity of the BCR. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis underscores the substantial influence of fuel price scenario on the most cost-effective heating technology. This study provides a balanced framework for informed decision-making on residential building heating, offering benchmarks for transitioning to a more sustainable urban heating infrastructure.

Keywords

• Residential building heating
• Energy performance buildings
• Levelized cost of heat
• GHG emissions
• Air pollution
• Brussels-capital region