Abstract
As rapid growth in the construction industry continues to occur in China, the increased demand for a higher standard living is driving significant growth in energy use and demand across the country. Building codes and standards have been implemented to head off this trend, tightening prescriptive requirements for fenestration component measures using methods similar to the U.S. model energy code American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 90.1. The objective of this study is to (a) provide an overview of applicable code requirements and current efforts within China to enable characterization and comparison of window and shading products, and (b) quantify the load reduction and energy savings potential of several key advanced window and shading systems, given the divergent views on how space conditioning requirements will be met in the future. System-level heating and cooling loads and energy use performance were evaluated for a code-compliant large office building using the EnergyPlus building energy simulation program. Commercially-available, highly-insulating, low-emittance windows were found to produce 24%–66% lower perimeter zone HVAC electricity use compared to the mandated energy-efficiency standard in force (GB 50189-2005) in cold climates like Beijing. Low-e windows with operable exterior shading produced up to 30%–80% reductions in perimeter zone HVAC electricity use in Beijing and 18%–38% reductions in Shanghai compared to the standard. The economic context of China is unique since the cost of labor and materials for the building industry is so low. Broad deployment of these commercially available technologies with the proper supporting infrastructure for design, specification, and verification in the field would enable significant reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in the near term.
Highlights
The building construction industry in China has no parallel in terms of growth
Space heating, cooling, and lighting energy use are three of the largest energy end uses in commercial or public buildings in China and energy-efficient window and shading systems can have a significant impact on reducing these end uses in perimeter zones
A prototypical large office building model originated from the Department of Energy (DOE) reference building was adapted to comply with the GB 50189-2005 Standard
Summary
The building construction industry in China has no parallel in terms of growth. Between 1985 and 2004, 10 Bm2 in new construction was added resulting in 40 Bm2 of total floor area in China by around 2005 [1].About 30% of China’s total energy use can be attributed to buildings. An example is given where two large office buildings in the same city, one with and one without operable windows, attributed 0.2 kWh/m2-year and 5.8 kWh/m2-year, respectively, to heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) energy use, the former having opened windows during the transitional seasons to meet comfort requirements. As the demand for a higher standard of living increases, demand for amenities such as large area windows, tighter ranges on indoor setpoint temperatures, 24-h HVAC operation, etc., will increase. These drivers point to significant growth in the energy use intensity per building and energy demand overall across the country
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
