Combining Building Renovation and Ground Source Heat Pump Installations for the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Case Study in Vaasa Finland

Given the growing interest in ground source heat pump and distributed heating installations in general for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, technology implementation planning can benefit from the simultaneous consideration of building renovations. Here, a method for identifying and evaluating scenarios based on cost and greenhouse gas emissions is presented. The method is demonstrated for a case study in Vaasa Finland. The case study considers the insulation of the walls, roof, and base floor and the replacement of windows based on 2003 and 2010 Finnish building codes simultaneously with the possible replacement of existing heat sources with ground source heat pumps. Estimates of changes in heat demand for consecutive renovations are combined with data on renovation, installation, heating costs, and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions data for the current and proposed heat sources. Preferred scenarios are identified and evaluated by building type, construction decade, and current heating source. The results are then placed within the contexts of the Vaasa building stock and policy theory.