1. A COST EFFECTIVE APPROACH
TO DESIGN OF ENERGY
EFFICIENT RESIDENTIAL
BUILDINGS
ADARSHA MAHARJAN
079MSEEB002
2. PROBLEM STATEMENT
1. ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN BUILDINGS ACCOUNTED FOR 43 PERCENT OF TOTAL WORLD
ENERGY.
2. 33 PERCENT OF GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AROUND THE WORLD IS GENERATED
FROM CONSUMPTIONS OF FOSSIL FUELS USED IN RESIDENTIAL BULDINGS.
3. INTRODUCTION
This research was conducted by Jordon University of Science and Technology. It is a study of the best cost-
effective package for residential buildings. Irbid, Aqaba, and Ma’an are selected as the study area for this
research.
The main objective of this study is to identify the most cost-optimal strategies for residential buildings in
different regions with different characteristics. The paper mostly focuses on creating energy-optimal
packages for nuclear families and evaluating the energy use pattern as well as the effect of different energy
conservation measures for Mediterranean climate regions. The biggest reason for the building to consume
such high energy is due to heat gain and loss through the building envelope i.e. walls, floors, and roofs thus
cost-optimal solution is required to make building energy efficient as economic aspects are quite significant.
The core of the study is to enhance and improve the energy efficiency of the residential buildings in new
ones and retrofit already-built buildings. Hence any improvement not only helps to use energy effectively
but also leads to social, economic, and environmental benefits.
4. What is done on research?
Different ways to reduce heat gain and loss through the building model are discussed and studied Such as
the Utilization of insulation materials and their effects on performance, upgrading of lighting systems such
as replacement of lamps with LED, the orientation of the building structure i.e recommendation of the
direction building façade, Solar shading (Shading device) their efficiency and using of double glazing.
Different strategies and technologies were studied and Compared:
1. Study of electricity consumption normally and when shade is on;
2. Study of energy consumption for different HVAC systems;
3. Study of energy consumption for different lighting systems;
4. Study of energy consumption for various glazing types;
5. Energy saving as a function of wall insulation.
7. METHODOLOGY
1. Two-storey classic buildings were selected for this study and different energy conservation measures
were proposed and simulated.
2. Validating the base model in order to accurately measure the different energy conservation measures
and their energy performance analysis. The model even accounted for different energy use by
individuals.
3. Proposed ECMS were categorized into 3 levels as follows:
Level 1-change cooling and heating set point and use of highly efficient lighting system;
Level 2- Level 1 plus 6 cm polystyrene layer for roof and 4 cm polystyrene for wall insulation;
Level 3-Level 2 plus 13 mm for glazing, efficiency for heating systems change from 0.8 to 0.95, and
upgrading cooling systems COP from 2 to 3.5.
8. RESULTS
Many Simulations were performed and compared with measured data. The results of the simulations
matched the measured results quite well.
Some important Results:
1. Upgrading HVAC systems efficiency from 0.8 to 0.95 and COP for cooling from 2 to 3.5 found 16
percent of total energy saving.
2. Glazing replacement showed substantial savings achieved using low emissivity.
3. Wall insulation thickness was found to be proportional to HVAC energy saving and thus required
further study to develop a strategy for specific regions.
4. Upgrading lighting system – LED bulbs can save up to 22-24.7 percent of total lighting consumption
and also save 2.6 percent of HVAC savings.
5. Retrofit Programs were highly cost-effective. When implemented Level 3 strategy up to 47.6 percent of
savings can be achieved with a payback period of 9.3 years.
