From comfort to kilowatts: An integrated assessment of electricity conservation in Thailand's commercial sector
Thailand serves as a case study of the potential to conserve electricity in the fast-growing commercial sectors of the tropical developing world. We performed a field study of over 1100 Thai office workers in which a questionnaire survey and simultaneous physical measurements were taken. Both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buildings were included. We analyzed Thai subjective responses on the ASHRAE, McIntyre and other rating scales, relating them to Effective Temperature, demographics, and to rational indices of warmth such as PMV and TSENS. These results suggest that without sacrificing comfort, significant energy conservation opportunities exist through the relaxation of upper space temperature limits. To investigate the potential for conserving energy in a cost-effective manner, we performed a series of parametric simulations using the DOE-2.1D computer program on three commercial building prototypes based on actual buildings in Bangkok; an office, a hotel, and a shopping center. We investigated a wide range of energy conservation measures appropriate for each building type, from architectural measures to HVAC equipment and control solutions. The best measures applied in combination into high efficiency cases can generate energy savings in excess of 50%. Economic analyses performed for the high efficiency cases, resulted in costs of conserved energy of less than and internal rates of return in excess of 40%. Thermal cool storage, cogeneration, and gas cooling technology showed promise as cost-effective electric load management strategies.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USAID
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- OSTI ID:
- 6558193
- Report Number(s):
- LBL-29478; ON: DE91000359
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
THAILAND
AIR CONDITIONING
COMMERCIAL SECTOR
D CODES
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ELECTRIC POWER
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
LOAD MANAGEMENT
PLANNING
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
ASIA
BUILDINGS
COMPUTER CODES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
MANAGEMENT
POWER
PUBLIC UTILITIES
320100* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Buildings
320603 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Municipalities & Community Systems- Public Utilities- (1980-)
296000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Electric Power
291000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Conservation