Sustainable Renovation Strategies for Aging Swedish Multi-Family Housings: A Comparative Study of Environmental, Economic, and Social Impacts
(2025) AEBM01 20251Division of Energy and Building Design
- Abstract
- The Million Homes Programme, launched in Sweden during the 1960s, resulted in the construction of over one million homes to address a national housing shortage. A majority of the houses consist of linear block buildings, many of which now require renovation. Moreover, climate change and increasing energy demands have put pressure on the building sector to reduce emissions and improve energy performance. To meet the EU climate targets and comply with directives such as the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD), improving energy efficiency in existing housing stock has become a critical objective. However, rising renovation costs risk being passed on to tenants, particularly affecting low-income households. This challenge... (More)
- The Million Homes Programme, launched in Sweden during the 1960s, resulted in the construction of over one million homes to address a national housing shortage. A majority of the houses consist of linear block buildings, many of which now require renovation. Moreover, climate change and increasing energy demands have put pressure on the building sector to reduce emissions and improve energy performance. To meet the EU climate targets and comply with directives such as the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD), improving energy efficiency in existing housing stock has become a critical objective. However, rising renovation costs risk being passed on to tenants, particularly affecting low-income households. This challenge highlights the importance of integrating environmental, economic, and social considerations in renovation strategies.
The aim is therefore, to analyse and optimise renovation measures for multifamily buildings from the 1960 – 1970s, with a focus on improving energy efficiency, lowering environmental impact, and maintaining as well as ensuring economic affordability.
A parametric study was conducted using the software program IDA ICE 5.1 to assess various renovation strategies, including insulation, window improvements, heat recovery ventilation system, geothermal heat pump and installing a photovoltaic system. These measures were evaluated based on energy use, life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle cost (LCC), and potential rent increases.
Some key findings from the results indicate that operational energy use has a significant impact on both the total LCA and LCC. The analyses also revealed that the renovation measures with low initial cost and short payback time tend to result in the smallest increase in rent.
To conclude, both passive and active renovation measures can be optimised to improve an aging multi-family building’s energy efficiency, while also reducing its environmental impact and cost. However, when additional factors, such as social aspects, are considered, finding the right balance becomes more challenging. Therefore, to contribute to well informed and sustainable decisions, clearer tools and methods are needed to consider all three-dimensions, environmental, economic, and social, into account. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- In the 1960s and 1970s, Sweden launched the Million Homes Programme to address a nationwide housing shortage. Today, many of these multi-family buildings are in urgent need of renovations, not only to meet modern living standards but also to align with national and the EU climate goals. The buildings sector accounts for a big share of energy use and carbon emissions, making energy-efficient renovation a critical step towards environmental sustainability.
This master thesis investigates how renovation strategies can be improved to reduce energy use and environmental impact, while also remaining cost-effective and socially responsible. Through energy simulation and analysis methods such as life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost... (More) - In the 1960s and 1970s, Sweden launched the Million Homes Programme to address a nationwide housing shortage. Today, many of these multi-family buildings are in urgent need of renovations, not only to meet modern living standards but also to align with national and the EU climate goals. The buildings sector accounts for a big share of energy use and carbon emissions, making energy-efficient renovation a critical step towards environmental sustainability.
This master thesis investigates how renovation strategies can be improved to reduce energy use and environmental impact, while also remaining cost-effective and socially responsible. Through energy simulation and analysis methods such as life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC), various renovation measures were evaluated. These included additional insulation, window replacement, heat recovery ventilation systems, heat pumps, and solar photovoltaic installations.
The results shows that some solutions, especially those with low initial costs and short payback periods, can yield significant energy savings with minimal rent increases. On the other hand, more advanced solutions may improve energy performance but could lead to higher costs for tenants if not planned carefully.
To conclude both passive and active renovation measure can be optimised to improve aging multi-family building´s energy efficiency, while also reducing its environmental impact and operating costs. However, when social factors, such as rent levels and affordability are considered, finding the right balance becomes more challenging. Therefore, to support well-informed decisions, clearer tools and method are needed, ones that consider environmental, economic and social factors all at once. Only by achieving this balance can we ensure renovations strategies that are not only efficient, but also sustainable. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9213410
- author
- Okeke, Rebecca LU and Nilsson, Elin LU
- supervisor
-
- Ulla Janson LU
- organization
- course
- AEBM01 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Renovation measures, Energy saving, Payback time, CO2 emissions, Parametric study
- language
- English
- id
- 9213410
- date added to LUP
- 2025-10-02 10:16:27
- date last changed
- 2025-10-02 10:16:27
@misc{9213410,
abstract = {{The Million Homes Programme, launched in Sweden during the 1960s, resulted in the construction of over one million homes to address a national housing shortage. A majority of the houses consist of linear block buildings, many of which now require renovation. Moreover, climate change and increasing energy demands have put pressure on the building sector to reduce emissions and improve energy performance. To meet the EU climate targets and comply with directives such as the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD), improving energy efficiency in existing housing stock has become a critical objective. However, rising renovation costs risk being passed on to tenants, particularly affecting low-income households. This challenge highlights the importance of integrating environmental, economic, and social considerations in renovation strategies.
The aim is therefore, to analyse and optimise renovation measures for multifamily buildings from the 1960 – 1970s, with a focus on improving energy efficiency, lowering environmental impact, and maintaining as well as ensuring economic affordability.
A parametric study was conducted using the software program IDA ICE 5.1 to assess various renovation strategies, including insulation, window improvements, heat recovery ventilation system, geothermal heat pump and installing a photovoltaic system. These measures were evaluated based on energy use, life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle cost (LCC), and potential rent increases.
Some key findings from the results indicate that operational energy use has a significant impact on both the total LCA and LCC. The analyses also revealed that the renovation measures with low initial cost and short payback time tend to result in the smallest increase in rent.
To conclude, both passive and active renovation measures can be optimised to improve an aging multi-family building’s energy efficiency, while also reducing its environmental impact and cost. However, when additional factors, such as social aspects, are considered, finding the right balance becomes more challenging. Therefore, to contribute to well informed and sustainable decisions, clearer tools and methods are needed to consider all three-dimensions, environmental, economic, and social, into account.}},
author = {{Okeke, Rebecca and Nilsson, Elin}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Sustainable Renovation Strategies for Aging Swedish Multi-Family Housings: A Comparative Study of Environmental, Economic, and Social Impacts}},
year = {{2025}},
}