Sustainable Solution for Renovation: Life Cycle Insights on Adding Floors to Swedish Multi-Family Houses

This paper explores the feasibility of increasing floor area in Swedish multi-family houses during renovations, emphasizing the equilibrium between financial and environmental advantages. The study is framed within the context of the European Union's stringent energy and emissions regulations, employing life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCC) to evaluate the impact of various renovation strategies. The study incorporates building energy simulations to investigate the results of different renovation scenarios, such as improving walls/roof and changing windows. Furthermore, thorough Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analyses are carried out to identify the most financially advantageous choices that optimize energy conservation. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is also conducted to evaluate the environmental consequences of each scenario. The main findings highlight the financial benefits of constructing additional floors, which result in higher income for property owners and immediate revenue for housing companies from selling extra floor space. The strategy of adding floors is environmentally friendly and has a smaller carbon footprint than building new structures, providing a sustainable option for urban growth. The study emphasizes the possibility of achieving substantial energy savings and reducing carbon emissions by incorporating advanced insulation methods, such as insulated roof panels, and upgrading less efficient windows. The research presents a case for the addition of floors during renovation to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in the Swedish construction industry. It offers a pathway for stakeholders to evaluate the long-term economic and environmental consequences of their renovation decisions.