FINDING THE OPTIMAL ENERGY DEMAND FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA

ERNESTO KUCHEN; YESICA ALAMINO; ALCION ALOSO-FRANK

Bologna

Congreso; PLEA, Passive and Low Energy Architecture; 2015

Building Green Futures + PLEA

At the time of evaluating and typifying energy consumers in energy demand studies, city buildings earn the highest relevance, on account of their energy misuse patterns. In addition, when an intense level of indoors activities is performed erratically, i.e., without any rational approach as regards an optimal energy usage, a growing problem of environmental concern and deficient energy supply soon sets in. A reliable energy supply for present and future urban societies requires that buildings reduce their energy demand through more sensible approaches to this goal. On such a sense, this work aims at defining an optimal level of energy demand in public buildings of the City of San Juan, Argentina, through a series of experiences made in three office buildings to analyze the functional, technological and equipment aspects in relation to comfort levels of the building. The evaluation results will allow defining the strategies to reduce the buildings? energy demand to optimal levels. The experiences have shown a constant consumption value per capita. An increase of energy consumption has been found to be related to a higher occupancy factor of the buildings, without affecting the users? thermal comfort level in different annual periods. Typically, energy efficiency values fluctuate around 150 ± 30 kWh/m2 per year. Low investment strategies, such as the operative setting of powered equipment, done individually at each workspace, and the monitored control of the HVAC system, allow reducing the power demand levels down to 45% of previous readings. Therefore, the study confirms that it is possible to establish an energy demand target of 100 kWh/m2 year for public buildings without adversely compromising the comfort levels of users and general public, while helping to decrease the energy bills, the need for larger power system infrastructure and the associated environmental concerns as well.