Analysis of Annual Cooling Energy Requirements for Glazed Academic Buildings

Large scale air conditioning applications such as that in a university is a major energy consumer. Certain buildings are intentionally designed and built by architects for aesthetic values are heavily penalized on the energy-related operational cost particularly those with glazed building envelope due to the significant heat gain from the solar radiation. With the uncertainties in the cost and availability of local and global energy nowadays, a study on the actual cooling load of a system should be performed to identify rooms for improvements for energy saving purpose. The objective of the present work is to analyze the annual cooling energy for highly glazed academic building. The outcome of the study would enable further remedial actions in reducing the energy consumption for the air conditioning system of the buildings. The study is conducted by computer simulation using EnergyPlus software to calculate the cooling energy of a selected building or areas. Comparison is made against the rated equipment load (i.e. the air handling unit) installed in the buildings. Since the buildings in the present work are not constructed parallel to each other the effect of the building orientations with respect to the sun positions are also studied. The implications of shades such as venetian blind on the cooling energy is studied in assessing their effectiveness in reducing the cooling energy, apart from providing thermal comfort to the occupants. In the aspect of operation, the present study includes the effects of reducing the set point air temperature and infiltration of outdoor air due to doors that are left open by the occupants. It is found from the present study that there are significant potentials for savings in the cooling energy of the buildings.