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A Field Study on Thermal Comfort and Cooling Load Demand Optimization in a Tropical Climate

Author

Listed:
  • Masoud Esfandiari

    (Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 19839-69411, Iran)

  • Suzaini Mohamed Zaid

    (Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Muhammad Azzam Ismail

    (Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Mohammad Reza Hafezi

    (Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 19839-69411, Iran)

  • Iman Asadi

    (Department of Structural Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Saleh Mohammadi

    (Department of Architectural Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands
    Department of Sustainable Building Technology, School of Business Building and Technology, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 70.000, 7500 KB Enschede, The Netherlands)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Masoud Esfandiari & Suzaini Mohamed Zaid & Muhammad Azzam Ismail & Mohammad Reza Hafezi & Iman Asadi & Saleh Mohammadi, 2021. "A Field Study on Thermal Comfort and Cooling Load Demand Optimization in a Tropical Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-25, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:22:p:12425-:d:676185
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    References listed on IDEAS

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