Decision making tool in building retrofitting for energy reduction in higher learning institution
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Date
2019
Authors
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Abstract
Higher Education Institutions (HLIs) are often associated with high energy consumption to meet the institution operational requirements. The energy consumption may sometime exceed the required load which can lead to negative impacts to the environment. In addition, the cost of energy consumption will also increase. This issue can be improved by adopting a retrofit initiative involving modifications to the existing buildings with energy-efficient technologies. The purpose of this study is to develop a decision-making tool namely Multi Criteria Retrofitting Energy Efficient Building (McREEB) to retrofit existing building in reducing energy usage. The objectives of the study were to determine the necessary criteria in making existing building retrofit decision to become energy-efficient buildings, analysing the level of importance of existing building retrofit criteria to energy-efficient buildings, developing automated retrofit evaluation tool in decision making for retrofit existing building to energy-efficient buildings and finally evaluating the use of the McREEB tool in the HLI building. A questionnaire survey was conducted to determine key criteria in making existing building retrofit decisions to become energy efficient buildings based on three initiatives from Step of Building Sustainability (SBS) namely lean energy, green technology and clean energy. All criteria were assessed by using Factor Analysis, Factor Score and Weightage Factor. Furthermore, McREEB retrofit decision-making tool was developed using Microsoft Excel 2016 where the weighted results give an indication of the type of practice and choice achieved. This effort facilitates stakeholders to deal with the importance criteria that should be considered when investing for building retrofit projects. Block M50 at School of Civil Engineering and Block T05 at Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) were the two buildings selected to evaluate the criteria determined during the decision of retrofitting using the McREEB. The assessment takes into account all the retrofit initiatives that have been identified in this study. The radar chart is used to describe the most influential criteria during the retrofit decision. Lighting and occupancy sensor are among green technologies used for retrofitting in the case studies, and its response to criteria of design, economic, environmental, occupants' comfort, building physical and technical. This study contributes to the stakeholders in HLI, building industry professional, national or international organization who preferred for sustainable building practices. McREEB provides a way to carry out retrofit ideas through criteria assessment that will benefit the actual implementation and help decision makers in retrofit evaluation.
Description
Thesis (PhD. (Civil Engineering))
Keywords
Buildings—Retrofitting, Buildings—Energy conservation, Sustainable buildings—Design and construction—Data processing