Abstract
Electrical energy usage in buildings is a challenging issue because many old buildings were not originally built to achieve energy efficiency. Thus, retrofitting old buildings to net-zero buildings can benefit both the owner and electric utilities. In this study, the BEC (building energy code) software was used to evaluate energy aspects of retrofitted buildings in compliance with Thailand’s building energy code to achieve a net-zero energy building. In addition, economic aspects were also studied to verify the feasibility for a project’s owner to invest in a retrofitted existing building. An existing residential building in Thailand was used as a case study. The results in terms of energy after retrofitting existing buildings into net-zero energy buildings show that the total energy consumption can be reduced by 49.36%. From an economic perspective, the investment cost for a retrofitted building can be compensated by energy saving in terms of discounted payback period (DPP) for approximately 4.36 years and has an IRR (internal rate of return) value of 19.23%. This result evidences the potential in both energy and economy for a project’s owner to invest in a retrofitted existing building in compliance with the building code, with potential for implementation with benefits on both electrical utilities and the project’s owner.
Highlights
In the last decade, electrical energy usage has significantly increased owing to the rapid increase in global population and economic activity, which have caused a rapid increase in electricity consumption in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors
The assessment results for the base case reveal that the building does not meet the standard in the envelope section and air conditioning system, while the lighting system and total energy consumption are still within the standard allowance
The lighting system was retrofitted by substituting fluorescent luminaires with high-energy efficiency LED luminaires, which can provide a significant reduction in energy consumption and maintain the same amount of illuminance on the working plane
Summary
Electrical energy usage has significantly increased owing to the rapid increase in global population and economic activity, which have caused a rapid increase in electricity consumption in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. A large proportion of the current global power generation still relies on energy extracted from fossil fuels, both oil and gas, which add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere and accelerate global warming. This trend occurs in Thailand, which shifted from being an agricultural nation with a population distributed across the country to an industrialized country. A large percentage of the population is moving into cities or industrial areas for work opportunities This increases the electrical energy demand, especially in residential and commercial buildings [1,2]. There is a challenge in terms of energy demand for the country [4]
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