1. A Field Study on Thermal Comfort and Cooling Load Demand Optimization in a Tropical Climate
- Author
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Suzaini M. Zaid, Iman Asadi, Masoud Esfandiari, Saleh Mohammadi, Mohammad Reza Hafezi, and Muhammad Azzam Ismail
- Subjects
thermal quality ,Environmental effects of industries and plants ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,tropical climate ,Geography, Planning and Development ,Cooling load ,Environmental engineering ,Equivalent temperature ,Thermal comfort ,TJ807-830 ,Energy consumption ,cooling energy demand ,Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law ,TD194-195 ,green building index ,Renewable energy sources ,Environmental sciences ,Demand optimization ,Thermal ,Tropical climate ,Environmental science ,GE1-350 ,energy-efficient design ,Efficient energy use - Abstract
Energy consumption to cool an indoor environment is a substantial part of total energy end-use, particularly in a tropical climate with high energy demand for cooling. To improve energy efficiency, cooling systems can be optimized using a variety of neutral indoor temperatures to maintain a balance between an occupant’s thermal comfort and cooling energy demand. This explanatory study investigated the thermal quality and cooling energy demand of a Platinum-certified office building in the tropical climate of Malaysia. The investigation aimed to suggest a balance between occupant thermal comfort and cooling energy demand. The thermal investigation includes an objective field measurement that implements environmental equipment to monitor thermal quality and a subjective occupant’s thermal feedback using a questionnaire survey. To calculate cooling energy demand, the total equivalent temperature difference method (TETD) is applied. The results suggested an occupant’s cooling sensation of around 24 °C, with no significant difference concerning age and gender. Cooling load calculation indicated a 36% energy reduction by increasing air temperature to 26 °C, for occupants to feel thermally comfortable in a tropical climate. These findings contribute to improving sustainable energy policies, sustainable construction, and thermal comfort improvement for a tropical climate.
- Published
- 2021