Dynamic Energy Performance Gap Analysis of a University Building: Case Studies at UAE University Campus, UAE

Young Ki Kim, Lindita Bande, Kheira Anissa Tabet Aoul and Hasim Altan
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Young Ki Kim: Department of Architectural Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, UAE
Lindita Bande: Department of Architectural Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, UAE
Kheira Anissa Tabet Aoul: Department of Architectural Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, UAE
Hasim Altan: Department of Architecture, Faculty of Design, Arkin University of Creative Arts and Design, Kyrenia 99300, Cyprus

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: As a result of an increasing demand for energy-efficient buildings with a better experience of user comfort, the built environment sector needs to consider the prediction of building energy performance, which during the design phase, is achieved when a building is handed over and used. There is, however, significant evidence that shows that buildings do not perform as anticipated. This discrepancy is commonly described as the ‘energy performance gap’. Building energy audit and post occupancy evaluation (POE) are among the most efficient processes to identify and reduce the energy performance gap and improve indoor environmental quality by observing, monitoring, and the documentation of in-use buildings’ operating performance. In this study, a case study of UAE university buildings’ energy audit, POE, and dynamic simulation were carried out to first, identify factors of the dynamic energy performance gap, and then to identify the utility of the strategy for reducing the gap. Furthermore, the building energy audit data and POE were applied in order to validate and calibrate a dynamic simulation model. This research demonstrated that the case study building’s systems were not operating as designed and almost a quarter of the cooling energy was wasted due to the fault of the building facility management of the mechanical systems. The more research findings were discussed in the paper.

Keywords: energy performance gap; dynamic energy performance gap; building energy audit; POE study; dynamic building simulation; simulation model validation and calibration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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