journal article·2021-07-31Open access

Energy Saving Quantitative Analysis of Passive, Active, and Renewable Technologies in Different Climate Zones

Chul-Ho Kim, Min-Kyeong Park, Won-Hee Kang

Applied Sciences· Volume 11· Issue 15

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide a guideline for the selection of technologies suitable for ASHRAE international climate zones when designing high-performance buildings. In this study, high-performance technologies were grouped as passive, active, and renewable energy systems. Energy saving technologies comprising 15 cases were categorized into passive, active, and renewable energy systems. EnergyPlus v9.5.0 was used to analyze the contribution of each technology in reducing the primary energy consumption. The energy consumption of each system was analyzed in different climates (Incheon, New Delhi, Minneapolis, Berlin), and the detailed contributions to saving energy were evaluated. Even when the same technology is applied, the energy saving rate differs according to the climatic characteristics. Shading systems are passive systems that are more effective in hot regions. In addition, the variable air volume (VAV) system, combined VAV–energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and combined VAV–underfloor air distribution (UFAD) are active systems that can convert hot and humid outdoor temperatures to create comfortable indoor environments. In cold and cool regions, passive systems that prevent heat loss, such as high-R insulation walls and windows, are effective. Active systems that utilize outdoor air or ventilation include the combined VAV-economizer, the active chilled beam with dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS), and the combined VAV-ERV. For renewable energy systems, the ground source heat pump (GSHP) is more effective. Selecting energy saving technologies that are suitable for the surrounding environment, and selecting design strategies that are appropriate for a given climate, are very important for the design of high-performance buildings globally.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Building Energy and Comfort Optimization · Wind and Air Flow Studies · Solar Energy Systems and Technologies

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Research Institute of Engineering and Technology, College of Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea

Department of Architecture, College of Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea

Funding

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

References (56)

Show source-provided references
1. International Energy Agency (2013). Energy conservation in buildings and community systems. Annex 53: Total Energy Use in Buildings—Analysis and Evaluation Methods, International Energy Agency.
2. International Energy Agency (IEA) (2016). Key World Energy Statistics International Online World Energy Statistics, IEA.
3. Briner, G., and Prag, A. (2013). Establishing and Understanding Post-2020 Climate Change Mitigation Commitments, OECD.
4. Post-2020 Climate Agreements in the Major Economies Assessed in the Light of Global Models10.1038/nclimate2475 ↗
5. OECD/International Energy Agency (2010). World Energy Outlook, International Energy Agency.
6. New Building Institute (NBI) (2012). Getting to Zero 2012 Status Update: A First Look at the Costs and Features of Zero Energy Commercial Buildings, New Building Institute.
7. Zero energy buildings and sustainable development implications—A review10.1016/j.energy.2013.01.070 ↗
8. Ramseur, J.L. (2014). U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Recent Trends and Factors, Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service.
9. Olivier, J.G.J., Janssens-Maenhout, G., Muntean, M., and Peters, J.A.H.W. (2015). Trends in Global CO2 Emissions: 2015 Report.
10. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) (2011). High-Performance Buildings-Value, Messaging, Financial and Policy Mechanisms.
11. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) (2015). Realizing High-Performance Buildings, How to Maintain Energy-Efficient Design Intent during Building Operation.
12. Understanding high performance buildings: The link between occupant knowledge of passive design systems, corresponding behaviors, occupant comfort and environmental satisfaction10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.11.003 ↗
13. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) (2021). EnergyPlus documentation engineering reference, The Reference to EnergyPlus Calculations.
14. An insight into actual energy use and its drivers in high-performance buildings10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.06.032 ↗
15. Data and analytics to inform energy retrofit of high-performance buildings10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.03.052 ↗
16. Parametric study of solar heating and cooling systems in different climates of Algeria—A comparison between conventional and high-performance buildings10.1016/j.energy.2016.07.022 ↗
17. Kim, C.-H., Lee, S.-E., and Kim, K.-S. (2018). Analysis of Energy Saving Potential in High-Performance Building Technologies under Korean Climatic Conditions. Energies, 11.10.20944/preprints201803.0103.v1 ↗
18. Kim, C.-H., Lee, S.-E., Lee, K.-H., and Kim, K.-S. (2019). Detailed Comparison of the Operational Characteristics of Energy-Conserving HVAC Systems during the Cooling Season. Energies, 12.10.3390/en12214160 ↗
19. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) (2021, July 26). Reference Commercial Buildings Report, Prototype Building Model Package, Available online: https://www.energycodes.gov/development/commercial/prototype_models.
20. U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) (2021, July 26). Building Technologies Office (BTO) EnergyPlus Weather Data Source, Available online: https://energyplus.net/weather/sources.
21. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (2021, July 26). Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS), Available online: https://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/.
22. ASHRAE (2004). Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004; American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
23. ASHRAE (2010). Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2010; American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
24. Korea Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport & Korea Energy Agency (2018). Building Energy Saving Design Standards.
25. United States Government Printing Office (GPO) (2011). Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109–58, Section 914, Building Standards; 109th Congress.
26. United States Government Printing Office (GPO) (2011). Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Public Law 110–140, Title IV-Energy Savings in Buildings and Industry, Section 401, Definitions; 110th Congress.
27. Comparative evaluation of optimal energy efficiency designs for French and U.S. office buildings10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.01.046 ↗
28. Energy demands and potential savings in European office buildings: Case studies based on EnergyPlus simulations10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.05.039 ↗
29. Jiang, B., Mao, P., Tan, Y., and Yao, X. (2016). A study of climate-responsive building technologies in different climate regions of China, Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate. Proceedings of the 20th International Symposium on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate, Springer.10.1007/978-981-10-0855-9_98 ↗
30. Quantifying demand flexibility based on structural thermal storage and comfort management of non-residential buildings: A comparison between hot and cold climate zones10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.03.004 ↗
31. Building energy efficiency in different climates10.1016/j.enconman.2008.01.013 ↗
32. Thornton, B.A., Wang, W., Lane, M.D., Rosenberg, M.I., and Liu, B. (2009). Technical Support Document: 50% Energy Savings Design Technology Packages for Medium Office Buildings.10.2172/969179 ↗
33. Deru, M., Field, K., Studer, D., Benne, K., Griffith, B., and Torcellini, P.U.S. (2011). Department of Energy Commercial Reference Building Models of the National Building Stock.10.2172/1009264 ↗
34. Korea Energy Agency (KEA), and Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT) (2017). Establishing Data Base of Building Energy Design Situation and Developing High Efficiency Building Design Guideline, KEA.
35. Korea Energy Agency, Korea Appraisal Board (2016). Development of Building Energy Integrated Support System for the Spread of Low-Energy Building Workshop, Korea Energy Agency and Korea Appraisal Board DB.
36. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) (2021, July 26). Architecture Data Private Open System, Available online: https://open.eais.go.kr/main/main.do.
37. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (2021, July 26). Building Energy Efficiency Certification System of Korea, Available online: http://www.molit.go.kr/USR/I0204/m_45/dtl.jsp?idx=14790.
38. DOE, US (2008). M&V Guidelines: Measurement and Verification for Federal Energy Projects Version 3.0.
39. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) (2010). ASHRAE 90.1-2010 International Climate Zone Definitions, ASHRAE.
40. Energy policy for integrating the building environmental performance model of an air conditioned building in a subtropical climate10.1016/j.enconman.2005.12.017 ↗
41. Applicability and optimum control strategy of energy recovery ventilators in different climatic conditions10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.03.006 ↗
42. Analysis and feasibility study of residential integrated heat and energy recovery ventilator with built-in economizer using an excel spreadsheet program10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.02.036 ↗
43. Saving energy in commercial buildings by using underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system10.1016/j.enconman.2009.12.040 ↗
44. Linden, P.F., Keun, Y.J., Tom, W., Fred, B., Ho, L.K., Stefano, S., and Allan, D. (2009). Simulation of Energy Performance of Underfloor Air Distribution (UFAD) Systems, Center for the Built Environment, Building Energy Research Grant (BERG) Program.
45. Khmelenko, V. (2015). Performance and Optimization of an Underfloor Air Distribution System in an Educational Building in a Hot and Humid Climate. [Master’s Thesis, Texas A&M University].
46. Multi-objective optimization for thermal mass model predictive control in small and medium size commercial buildings under summer weather conditions10.1016/j.energy.2016.07.021 ↗
47. Melo, A.P., Lamberts, R., de Souza Versage, R., and Zhang, Y. (2015, January 7–9). Is Thermal insulation always beneficial in hot climate. Proceedings of the BS2015: 14th Conference of International Building Performance Simulation Association, Hyderabad, India.
48. Thermal and economic windows design for different climate zones10.1016/j.enbuild.2011.08.019 ↗
49. Energy performance of glazings in European climates10.1016/j.renene.2011.06.016 ↗
50. Experimental study of vertical ground-source heat pump performance evaluation for cold climate in Turkey10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.10.046 ↗
51. Energy consumption of cold climate heat pumps in different climates—Comparison of single-stage and two-stage systems10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2015.10.003 ↗
52. Miara, M., Russ, C., Günther, D., Kramer, T., and Henning, H.M. (2011, January 16–19). Henning, Efficiency of heat pump systems under real operating conditions results of three monitoring campaigns in Germany. Proceedings of the 10th IEA Heat Pump Conference, Tokyo, Japan.
53. The energy saving potentials of zone-level membrane-based enthalpy recovery ventilators for VAV systems in commercial buildings10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.10.009 ↗
54. McDowell, T.P., and Emmerich, S.J. (2005, January 15–18). Analysis of dedicated outdoor air systems for different climates. Proceedings of the Ninth International IBPSA Conference, Montreal, QC, Canada.
55. Thermal comfort and IAQ analysis of a decentralized DOAS system coupled with radiant cooling for the tropics10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.09.001 ↗
56. Deng, S. (2014). Energy Benefits of Different Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems Configurations in Various Climates. [Master’s Thesis, The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska].