Energy Consumption Optimization Measures for Buildings in the Midwest Regions of USA

Maher Shehadi

doi:10.3390/buildings8120170

Abstract

This paper investigates various building material effects on the cooling load requirements of a typical two-floor house located in the Midwest region in the USA. A survey was done for various building materials along with their prices in the US market. Various building walls, lighting, window glazing, and insulations were used for simulation as single and combined cases. The return on investment from savings in the electrical load consumption against the materials cost was investigated. It was found that the best single case savings and investments were for cases when lights were changed from incandescent lighting with 20 W/m2 to fluorescent bulbs, or when using double skinned walls with 5 cm rock wool or expanded polystyrene insulation. Combined cases, combining more than one single change, offered more reductions in cooling loads but were associated with higher initial costs and, thus, longer returns on investment. The best case recommendation was for buildings with a 20 cm hollow concrete block (HCB) when combined with fluorescent lights and double pane heat-absorbing glazing for windows. Although these recommendations were for a typical house in the Midwest region of the United States, a similar analysis could be adopted by designers and building owners to optimize the energy consumption in their buildings. The final design decision should be based on an optimum correlation of the air-conditioning units’ size and cost, running and maintenance costs, the return on the investment duration, and the available usage area in the building.

Highlights

Global warming, climate change, and greenhouse effects are rising trends and issues during the last decades
The results showed that the energy consumption for cooling the building was reduced by 6.3% when using the triple glazed windows over single clear glass
The results showed that low-emission glazing windows achieved the best performance, whereas double glazing was among the worst cases

Summary

Introduction

Climate change, and greenhouse effects are rising trends and issues during the last decades. Commercial and residential types, are a major contributor, the largest, in terms of energy consumption and, in its impact on the environment [1]. Energy consumption in buildings significantly increases on a yearly basis due to the increased human comfort needs and services [2]. Residential and commercial buildings use a high percentage of the US’s primary energy. This portion can reach as high as 40%. Half this amount of energy consumed is by the ventilation and air-conditioning systems of the building [3].

Methods

Results

Conclusion