Updated Life Cycle Cost Calculator

The Zero Carbon Building Standard Life Cycle Cost Calculator workbook has been enhanced to expand its applicability for all current versions of ZCB-Design and ZCB-Performance, including ZCB-Design v3 and v4.  

The Life Cycle Cost Calculator is designed for evaluating the long-term viability of carbon reduction measures and is the dedicated financial analysis tool to meet the Zero Carbon Transition Plan requirements of all Zero Carbon Building Standards. With ZCB-Design v4, all projects that rely on onsite combustion for space heating and/or service hot water must also evaluate an alternative design without combustion, in addition to Zero Carbon Transition Plan scenario(s). The updated Life Cycle Cost Calculator now allows project teams to compare a baseline building to both an alternative design scenario as well as several Zero Carbon Transition Plan scenarios. 

While this calculator is tailored to assist ZCB-Design and ZCB-Performance applicants with the financial assessment requirements of the Zero Carbon Transition Plan, projects that prefer to use their own financial analysis tools are welcome to do so, ensuring flexibility and accommodation of diverse project needs. 

What’s new in the update? 

The updates focused on refining and enhancing features to support the calculator’s use in all current versions of ZCB-Design and ZCB-Performance. Key updates include: 

Updated Emissions Tables:

Integrated projections for future grid emissions and updated the intensities of fuel sources, providing a more accurate basis for financial analysis. 

Added Scenarios & Measures:

Expanded to include an alternative design without combustion for ZCB-Design v4, as well as enhancements to the evaluations for base cases and detailed Zero Carbon Transition Plan scenarios. 

Resolved Calculation Issues:

Addressed known issues from the previous version, increasing the calculator’s reliability for critical project decisions. 

New Sources and References Tab:

Added to offer quick access to underlying data and assumptions, ensuring transparency and ease of verification. 

Revised Instructions Tab:

Now includes a detailed legend and explanations of differences between versions, aimed at helping new and returning users navigate the tool more effectively. 

Enhanced Flexibility and User-Friendliness:

Improvements in the tool’s interface and the capability for manual entries, making it more adaptable to specific project needs. 

These updates make the Life Cycle Cost Calculator a more robust and essential tool for meeting the Zero Carbon Building Standards. We encourage all project teams to download and utilize the most recent version in their next Zero Carbon Building – Design or Zero Carbon Building – Performance submission. 

If you have any questions about the tool, please contact us at zerocarbon@cagbc.org.