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An Analysis of Energy Efficiency Actions and Photovoltaic Energy in Public Buildings in a Semi-Arid Region: The Requirements for Positive Energy and Net-Zero Energy Buildings in Brazil

Author

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  • Elder Ramon Chaves da Costa

    (Electrical Engineering Graduate Program, Federal University of the Semiarid Region—UFERSA, Street Francisco Mota, n◦ 572, Mossoro 59625-900, Brazil)

  • Rogério Diogne de Souza e Silva

    (Electrical Engineering Graduate Program, Federal University of the Semiarid Region—UFERSA, Street Francisco Mota, n◦ 572, Mossoro 59625-900, Brazil)

  • Victor de Paula Brandão Aguiar

    (Electrical Engineering Graduate Program, Federal University of the Semiarid Region—UFERSA, Street Francisco Mota, n◦ 572, Mossoro 59625-900, Brazil)

Abstract

The search for sustainable energy alternatives is urgent in the face of climate change and resource scarcity. In this context, increasing energy efficiency in buildings through distributed energy resources (DERs) is crucial for sustainability and self-sufficiency. This article aims to analyze the impact of several energy efficiency actions, in addition to the installation of a photovoltaic solar energy system in a public building in a semi-arid region, determining the necessary aspects for such buildings to become positive energy buildings (PEBs) and/or net zero energy buildings (NZEBs). As a basis for the methodology, a case study was carried out in a university restaurant in a semi-arid region in Brazil. Several pieces of data were collected, such as the air temperature, solar radiation, active energy and the number of users in the building. The relevance of each variable in relation to electricity consumption was identified through statistical correlation analysis, resulting in an energy consumption per square meter per year of 80.78 kWh/m 2 /year and an active energy consumption per user per year of 0.88 kWh/m 2 /year. Three energy efficiency actions were evaluated and compared technically and economically against the investment in a grid-connected photovoltaic system (GCPVS) for the same building, simulating before and after the entry into force of Law 14.300/2022, which regulates distributed generation in Brazil. The installation of thermal insulation on the building’s roof showed good technical, economic and environmental performance, compared to GCPVS, and proved to be attractive and competitive among the other scenarios. All simulated actions resulted in an annual emission reduction of 14.8 tCO 2 e. When calculating the building’s generation potential, it was found that it could be considered an NZEB and PEB.

Suggested Citation

  • Elder Ramon Chaves da Costa & Rogério Diogne de Souza e Silva & Victor de Paula Brandão Aguiar, 2025. "An Analysis of Energy Efficiency Actions and Photovoltaic Energy in Public Buildings in a Semi-Arid Region: The Requirements for Positive Energy and Net-Zero Energy Buildings in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-26, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:11:p:5157-:d:1671570
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Raniero Sannino & Laura Ronchetti & Silvia Di Turi, 2024. "Pathway to Zero-Emission Buildings: Energy and Economic Comparison of Different Demand Coverage by RES for a New Office Building," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Alexander Ly & Maarten Marsman & Eric†Jan Wagenmakers, 2018. "Analytic posteriors for Pearson's correlation coefficient," Statistica Neerlandica, Netherlands Society for Statistics and Operations Research, vol. 72(1), pages 4-13, February.
    3. Farizal Farizal & Muhammad Aqil Noviandri & Hanif Hamdani, 2024. "Sustainability Development through a Nearly Zero Energy Building Implementation Case: An Office Building in South Jakarta," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-21, August.
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