Energy Efficiency Indicators for Water Pumping Systems in Multifamily Buildings

Danilo Ferreira de Souza, Emeli Lalesca Aparecida da Guarda, Ildo Luis Sauer and Hédio Tatizawa
Additional contact information
Danilo Ferreira de Souza: Department of Electrical Engineering, Campus Cuiaba, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060-900, Brazil
Emeli Lalesca Aparecida da Guarda: Environment Comfort Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis 88040-900, Brazil
Ildo Luis Sauer: Institute of Energy and Environment—IEE, University of Sao Paulo—USP, São Paulo 05508-010, Brazil
Hédio Tatizawa: Institute of Energy and Environment—IEE, University of Sao Paulo—USP, São Paulo 05508-010, Brazil

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 21, 1-13

Abstract: With the current concerns about sustainable development and energy consumption in buildings, water pumping systems have become essential for reducing energy consumption. This research aims to develop guidelines for the energy assessment of water pumping systems in multifamily buildings. The methodological procedures are: (i) definition of the efficiencies of electric motors; (ii) definition of pump efficiency levels; (iii) determination of energy consumption; and (iv) construction of the efficiency scale and guidelines for projects and assessments. The results obtained were that centrifugal pumps with 40% efficiency have higher energy consumption, regardless of the efficiency class of the electric motors, showing a 20% increase in electrical energy consumption. Lower efficiencies directly impact the energy efficiency rating of the water pumping system. Thus the 40% efficiency obtained energy efficiency rating “Very Low—VL” for all motor efficiency classes (between IE1 and IE5). At 60% efficiency, the energy efficiency level of the system was “Average—A”, gradually increasing to “Very High—VH”, as the energy consumption in the pumps decreased and the motors’ energy efficiency classes increased. It is concluded that designers and professionals in the area must consider the efficiency of the pumps, as they play a fundamental role in the classification of the system’s energy efficiency. It is also recommended to verify the energy efficiency of the water pumping system and implement design guidelines so that the pumping system achieves lower energy consumption, contributing to the building’s energy efficiency and sustainability.

Keywords: motor efficiency level; pump efficiency; MEPS; guidelines (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/21/7152/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/21/7152/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:21:p:7152-:d:669828

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().