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Climate Change and Meteorological Effects on Building Energy Loads in Pearl River Delta

Author

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  • Sihao Chen

    (College of Ocean Engineering and Energy, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China)

  • Yi Yang

    (College of Ocean Engineering and Energy, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China)

  • Jiangbo Li

    (School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

Abstract

Global climate change is significantly altering the energy consumption patterns and outdoor environments of buildings. The current meteorological data utilized for building design exhibit numerous deficiencies. To effectively address the needs of future building usage in design, it is crucial to establish more refined meteorological parameters that accurately reflect the climate of specific geographical locations. Utilizing 60 years of meteorological data from Guangzhou, this study employs the cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) method to define four archetypal meteorological years, providing a robust foundation for subsequent analysis. The findings indicate a significant increase in the frequency of high temperatures and temperature values during the summer months, with an increase of nearly 20% in the cumulative degree hours (CDHs) used for calculating a typical meteorological year (TMY4) over the past 30 years. Additionally, there has been an increase of 0.4–0.7 °C in the air conditioning design daily temperature. The statistics on outdoor calculation parameters for different geographical locations, as well as outdoor design parameters for varying guaranteed rate levels in the Pearl River Delta, reveal a substantial impact on outdoor calculation parameters. The maximum difference in cooling load is approximately 9.3%, with a generally high cooling demand in summer and a relatively low heating demand in winter. Furthermore, the calculation values for different non-guaranteed rates can be applied flexibly to meet the needs of engineering applications. This study provides a valuable reference for updating meteorological parameters in building design. By refining meteorological parameters, this study enables more accurate predictions of energy needs, leading to optimized building designs that reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. It supports the development of resilient buildings capable of adapting to changing climatic conditions, thus contributing to long-term environmental sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Sihao Chen & Yi Yang & Jiangbo Li, 2025. "Climate Change and Meteorological Effects on Building Energy Loads in Pearl River Delta," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:1:p:348-:d:1560632
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cui, Ying & Yan, Da & Hong, Tianzhen & Xiao, Chan & Luo, Xuan & Zhang, Qi, 2017. "Comparison of typical year and multiyear building simulations using a 55-year actual weather data set from China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 890-904.
    2. Kamal, Rajeev & Moloney, Francesca & Wickramaratne, Chatura & Narasimhan, Arunkumar & Goswami, D.Y., 2019. "Strategic control and cost optimization of thermal energy storage in buildings using EnergyPlus," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C), pages 77-90.
    3. Jiang, Yingni, 2010. "Generation of typical meteorological year for different climates of China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 1946-1953.
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