Abstract
The aim of this study is to quantify the energy savings of a library in the city of Foz do Iguaçu/Brazil, through simulations in EnergyPlus. Due to the great participation of air conditioning in the electric consumption of the building under study, the following proposals were studied: the exchange of the current split air conditioning units by a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system; the application of solar control films on the glasses; and both options together. The methodology followed these steps: firstly, it was simulated the current electricity consumption and the results were validated with real measures; secondly, the retrofitting measures were sized and implemented in the program and the energy savings were quantified; finally, an economic analysis was performed in order to determine the feasibility of the proposals. As a result, the VRF system showed an annual saving in air-conditioning of 42.08% related to the mini-split system. The annual electricity savings were 32.01, 2.14 and 32.80% for the VRF, solar control films, and both options together, respectively. The feasibility analysis of the VRF, considering financing and for a scenario consistent with the historical average growth of the electricity prices and inflation rate, showed that the use of a VRF instead of the splits units recovers the initial investment in 14 years. The application of solar control films proved to be economically unfeasible.
Highlights
Accepted on September 23, 2019 In Brazil, half of the electricity consumption corresponds to buildings, whether residential, commercial or public (Empresa de Pesquisa Energética [EPE] & Ministério de Minas e Energia [Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME)], 2017)
In January and February consumption is lower than the other summer months, due to the fact that the building opening time is shorter in these two months, the month with the highest consumption is March with 17,027 kWh, from which 14,257 kWh (86.7%) corresponds to air-conditioning
The case study demonstrated that the use of a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system instead of the mini-splits units can provide an annual air-conditioning saving of 42.08%
Summary
In Brazil, half of the electricity consumption corresponds to buildings, whether residential, commercial or public (Empresa de Pesquisa Energética [EPE] & Ministério de Minas e Energia [MME], 2017). According to the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), for the existing Brazilian buildings it is estimated a potential energy saving of 30% and for those in construction 50% (Roméro & Reis, 2012). Air-conditioning corresponds to 12.6% of the Brazilian electric consumption (Centro Brasileiro de Informação de Eficiência Energética [ProcelInfo], 2020). The National Program of Conservation of Electric Energy (Procel) estimates that in public buildings, the electricity consumption in air-conditioning corresponds to 48%, followed by lighting with 23% and office equipment with 15% (ProcelInfo, 2020). Reducing the air-conditioning consumption is one of the keys to significantly reduce electricity consumption in the Brazilian public buildings
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