Abstract
Occupant factor is a critical element in the overall energy consumption of buildings. This study aims to reveal how occupant factors influence the energy consumption of example buildings in Seoul, Tokyo, and Hong Kong under climate change projections, and to prioritize factors with energy saving potential for buildings in consideration of future climate change. The study finds that the cooling degree-hours base of 23.3 °C in the three cities sharply increases with future climate change by analyzing future hourly weather data produced herein. Simulations are made with EnergyPlus Runtime Language (Erl) for modeling occupant behavior. The simulation results reveal that a dynamic thermostat control based on an adaptive comfort model is an effective method to reduce cooling energy consumption under future climate change, reducing cooling energy consumption by up to 18% in some instances. In particular, we reveal that a combined application of the adaptive comfort control, nighttime ventilation, and the use of occupancy-based lighting and equipment result in reducing cooling energy consumption by 28%. The outcomes of this study are potentially useful in providing cost-effective solutions to adapt buildings for future climate change with simple modifications to occupant behavior. Also, the roles of renewable energy are briefly discussed.
Highlights
Climate change receives a lot of attention because of its potentially devastating consequences for both the environment and humans
Based on previous studies that investigate occupant factor and climate change implications in buildings, this study aims to reveal how factors related to occupant behavior influence the energy consumption of buildings in Seoul, Tokyo, and Hong Kong according to climate change forecasts
The results show that this occupancy-based use of lighting and equipment during nonoccupied periods in buildings reduced cooling energy consumption in Seoul, Tokyo, and Hong Kong
Summary
Climate change receives a lot of attention because of its potentially devastating consequences for both the environment and humans. Climate-related extremes, including heat waves, droughts, cyclones, and floods have caused severe damage in both developing and developed countries [1]. The building sector is one of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which are the most significant driver of climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions from buildings have sharply increased since 1970, accounting for 25% of global GHG emissions in 2010 [3]. Most GHG emissions from buildings are related to energy use for heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting. GHG emissions from energy use in buildings have shown active growth since 1970 and are expected to double by the middle of this century due to increases in wealth, lifestyle changes, and urbanization
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