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Opportunities of Conserving Energy on an Existing Institutional Building: Case Study
Abstract
The building considered in this case study is a two-story facility with total floor area of 3588 square meter; it is mainly educational facility (classrooms, laboratories, and workshops) as well as staff offices. The building is cooled by an air-cooled reciprocating chillers which is operating round the clock. A preliminary energy audit technique was conducted to evaluate the building energy performance and identify opportunities of saving energy. In addition to the walk-through technique also mini-data loggers were installed in each zone to monitor dry-bulb temperatures, relative humidity, and light intensity over the year 2008. Specific ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 100-2006 Energy Conservation in Existing Building measures were implemented in the building. The recorded data showed large deviation of dry-bulb temperatures from comfort range in many zones. The building simulated using DesignBuilder simulation program controlling the indoor temperature and using the set-back temperature schedules. These two parameters showed an opportunity of saving energy of the existing building by 35%, and 15% respectively. Finally, a cost analysis of implementing Building Management System (BMS) was analyzed; the result showed a pay-back period of less than six months was obtained.
Subject
Air-cooled Reciprocating ChillersIndoor Temperatures
DesignBuilder Simulation
Building Management System (BMS)
Citation
Alajmi, A. F. (2010). Opportunities of Conserving Energy on an Existing Institutional Building: Case Study. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu); Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /94133.