The analysis of the factors affecting energy use in the commercial buildings of the Wellington CBD

Abstract

This paper describes the methods used and the results obtained during a study of energy consumption in the commercial buildings of the Central Business District of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. Data was collected on the energy consumption, floor area and occupancy of 1,107 buildings, together with their design and operational characteristics. Analysis of the data demonstrated that both floor area and number of occupants provide useful bases for comparison of the intensity of energy use in buildings. Categorising premises within buildings into activity groups produced significantly different mean energy intensities for each activity. The factor most often associated with energy use for all activity groups, and apparently, therefore, the major determinant of energy use in these buildings, was the complexity and degree of centralisation of the HVAC services. The information derived from this data constitutes the most comprehensive picture yet produced for a major collection of New Zealand's commercial buildings. It provides a basis for comparisons with other centre's data and for the eventual production of a national data base.