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| Title: | Energy Emissions Mitigation Using Green Roofs: Probabilistic Analysis and Integration in Market-Based Clean Air Policies. |
| Authors: | Clark, Corrie Elizabeth |
| Keywords: | green roofs
multimedia model
market-based policy
vegetated roofs
energy emissions management |
| Issue Date: | 2008 |
| Abstract: | Our urban infrastructure systems are stressed. The decay of water infrastructure is
spurring demand for innovative solutions for stormwater management. Concurrently, the
transition of predominantly coal-based utilities to renewable portfolios is slow, resulting
in continuing adverse health impacts from air pollution. The need for emissions
management and resilient water infrastructure in cities will further increase as the world’s
population continues to move to urban centers.
This dissertation explores the technical, economic, and policy opportunities for
vegetated roofs as one solution to stormwater and energy emissions management. The
objective was to explore policy strategies to integrate green roofs into emissions
management using quantitative economic and physical-chemical modeling tools.
A net present value (NPV) approach was used to compare the cost of a
conventional roof to a green roof accounting for benefits for stormwater, air pollution,
and building energy conservation. Results indicated that, while a green roof costs 39
percent more initially, the 40-year NPV is 23 to 30 percent less mainly due to energy
savings and potential health benefits from air pollution reduction. The impact of
stormwater fees was minimal.
The benefit of green roofs to improve air quality is novel, and had to date not
been explored quantitatively. A probabilistic, fugacity-based fate and transport model,
SEDUM (Sequestering Emissions: Designable Uptake Model), was developed to assess
the uptake of reactive nitrogen species (NO2, NO, and HNO3). The model estimates uptake by vegetation and soil media, which were compared with dry deposition model
results and water quality data. Under polluted conditions, a mean removal rate of 0.20 ±
0.01 kgNO2/m2/y was estimated using SEDUM. For a 2,000 m2 roof, this translates into a
health benefit between $640 and $2426 per year. Design parameters that impact pollutant
uptake were identified.
Analysis of current stormwater and air quality policies showed that market-based
incentives can close the cost differential once both stormwater and air quality incentives
are considered. This work was sufficiently robust to demonstrate the economic and
emissions mitigation potential to be included in best available control technology
(BACT) consideration. Yet, market-based policy incentives are currently insufficient for
widespread adoption. |
| Appears in Collections: | Dissertations and Theses (Ph.D. and Master's)
Natural Resources and Environment, School of (SNRE)
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| clarkce_1.pdf | | 17862Kb | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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