Analysing parameters for energy efficiency retrofitting initiatives for high-rise buildings through an integrated approach / Siti Birkha Mohd Ali

Siti Birkha , Mohd Ali (2023) Analysing parameters for energy efficiency retrofitting initiatives for high-rise buildings through an integrated approach / Siti Birkha Mohd Ali. PhD thesis, Universiti Malaya.

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Abstract

One of the biggest consumers of energy and producers of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is the building industry. Due to this, many countries have established acts, standards, and guidelines to ensure the new building development is in line with the main objectives of being energy-efficient and lowering GHG emissions. However, sole dependency on the new building development is inadequate. With the high number of existing buildings in Malaysia, which mainly are non-energy efficient, analysing a building's load profile is the first step in allowing the implementation of load factor improvement initiatives that improve load balancing while also lowering utility costs and emissions. The execution of load factor improvement initiatives could come from numerous strategies, which focused on either the non-design factor or passive design factor of a building, or even both. Essentially, the retrofitting initiatives are decided based on the most practical and costeffective solution. In this research, Wisma R&D, Universiti Malaya was selected as the reference building and two approaches have been selected for analysing the effect of different building parameters. The outcome later could assist in effective retrofitting decision-making. Prior to the walk-through energy audit (EA) and simulation-based approaches, the load factor (LF) performance analysis was carried out based on the four conservative years (2015 to 2018) of the building’s utility bills. Based on the analysis, the need for urgent retrofit is validated as the building’s LF performance is measured between 0.3 to 0.4. The succeeding analysis focuses on identifying the most impacted non-design and passive design factors that contributed to the trio effect i.e. energy consumption, energy cost, and carbon emission from building operations. The outcome of the walkthrough EA concluded that air-conditioning, server racks, lighting, and PC/laptops are the highest contributors to the total energy consumption in Wisma R&D with 34%, 18%, 18%, and 10% respectively. Nevertheless, it is not practical to work on saving initiatives for the server rack. Hence, an analysis of the potential saving from the utilisation of airconditioning, lighting, and PC/laptops are presented in this research. In addition, the passive-design factors like the window glazing, opaque, and shading materials were analysed thoroughly using ArchiCAD. The simulation-based approach concluded that an Argon-filled double-glazed window with the combination of the aluminum ultimate metal frame provided the optimal thermal resistance (R-value) and infiltration rate (in ACH) for Wisma R&D. The effective match for both parameters was found to be 0.98 m2K/W and 0.31 ACH respectively which resulted in 18,133.9 kWh, RM 6618.88 and 1265.16 kg saving of annual energy consumption, energy cost, and carbon emission reduction. Apart from the window design performances, the horizontal shading effect is too discussed. The findings of this research were summarised in a useful retrofitting suggestion for high-rise buildings in Malaysia.

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