IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v9y2017i11p2096-d118904.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Retrofits for Energy Efficient Office Buildings: Integration of Optimized Photovoltaics in the Form of Responsive Shading Devices

Author

Listed:
  • Hardi K. Abdullah

    (Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta 99628, North Cyprus, via Mersin 10, Turkey
    Department of Architecture, College of Engineering, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil 44002, Kurdistan, Iraq)

  • Halil Z. Alibaba

    (Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta 99628, North Cyprus, via Mersin 10, Turkey)

Abstract

This study presents a retrofit strategy: integrating optimized photovoltaics (PV) in the form of responsive shading devices using a dual-axis solar tracking system. A prototype-based model was fabricated to compare the efficiency of PV in this implementation with the conventional fixed installation. The office building, T1 Empire World in Erbil, was selected as a retrofit case study and for the application of the proposed integration system. In order to assess the effectiveness of the proposed retrofit method, the energy performance of the base case is simulated to be compared later with the energy performance simulations after the integration technique. The amount of generated electricity from the PV surfaces of the integrated shading elements is calculated. The energy simulations were performed using OpenStudio ® (NREL, Washington, DC, USA), EnergyPlus TM (NREL, Washington, DC, USA), and Grasshopper/ Ladybug tools in which the essential results were recorded for the baseline reference, as well as the energy performance of the retrofitted building. The results emphasize that the PV-integrated responsive shading devices can maximize the efficiency of PV cells by 36.8% in comparison to the fixed installation. The integrated system can provide approximately 15.39% of the electricity demand for operating the building. This retrofit method has reduced the total site energy consumption by 33.2% compared to the existing building performance. Total electricity end-use of the various utilities was lowered by 33.5%, and the total natural gas end-use of heating demand was reduced by 30.9%. Therefore, the percentage reduction in electricity cooling demand in July and August is 42.7% due to minimizing the heat gain in summer through blocking the sun’s harsh rays from penetrating into interior spaces of the building. In general, this system has multiple benefits, starting with being extremely efficient and viable in generating sustainable alternative energy—which is the global growing concern of today’s sustainable development—providing thermal comfort for occupants, and granting a dynamic appearance to the building when the PV-integrated elements rotate according to the sun’s position in the sky.

Suggested Citation

  • Hardi K. Abdullah & Halil Z. Alibaba, 2017. "Retrofits for Energy Efficient Office Buildings: Integration of Optimized Photovoltaics in the Form of Responsive Shading Devices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-22, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:11:p:2096-:d:118904
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/11/2096/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/11/2096/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mohammad Y. AbuGrain & Halil Z. Alibaba, 2017. "Optimizing Existing Multistory Building Designs towards Net-Zero Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Halil Alibaba, 2016. "Determination of Optimum Window to External Wall Ratio for Offices in a Hot and Humid Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-21, February.
    3. Lotfabadi, Pooya & Alibaba, Halil Zafer & Arfaei, Aref, 2016. "Sustainability; as a combination of parametric patterns and bionic strategies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 1337-1346.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Maatouk Khoukhi & Abeer Fuad Darsaleh & Sara Ali, 2020. "Retrofitting an Existing Office Building in the UAE Towards Achieving Low-Energy Building," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Mustapha Mukhtar & Bismark Ameyaw & Nasser Yimen & Quixin Zhang & Olusola Bamisile & Humphrey Adun & Mustafa Dagbasi, 2021. "Building Retrofit and Energy Conservation/Efficiency Review: A Techno-Environ-Economic Assessment of Heat Pump System Retrofit in Housing Stock," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-23, January.
    3. Hardi K. Abdullah & Halil Z. Alibaba, 2020. "Window Design of Naturally Ventilated Offices in the Mediterranean Climate in Terms of CO 2 and Thermal Comfort Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-33, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Silvia Cesari & Paolo Valdiserri & Maddalena Coccagna & Sante Mazzacane, 2020. "The Energy Saving Potential of Wide Windows in Hospital Patient Rooms, Optimizing the Type of Glazing and Lighting Control Strategy under Different Climatic Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-24, April.
    2. Paweł Szałański & Piotr Kowalski & Wojciech Cepiński & Piotr Kęskiewicz, 2023. "The Effect of Lowering Indoor Air Temperature on the Reduction in Energy Consumption and CO 2 Emission in Multifamily Buildings in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-19, August.
    3. Yorgos Spanodimitriou & Giovanni Ciampi & Michelangelo Scorpio & Niloufar Mokhtari & Ainoor Teimoorzadeh & Roberta Laffi & Sergio Sibilio, 2022. "Passive Strategies for Building Retrofitting: Performances Analysis and Incentive Policies for the Iranian Scenario," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-22, February.
    4. Krzysztof Grygierek & Joanna Ferdyn-Grygierek & Anna Gumińska & Łukasz Baran & Magdalena Barwa & Kamila Czerw & Paulina Gowik & Klaudia Makselan & Klaudia Potyka & Agnes Psikuta, 2020. "Energy and Environmental Analysis of Single-Family Houses Located in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-25, May.
    5. Mushk Bughio & Thorsten Schuetze & Waqas Ahmed Mahar, 2020. "Comparative Analysis of Indoor Environmental Quality of Architectural Campus Buildings’ Lecture Halls and its’ Perception by Building Users, in Karachi, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-29, April.
    6. Jiaxi Luo, 2022. "A Bibliometric Review on Artificial Intelligence for Smart Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-22, August.
    7. Hardi K. Abdullah & Halil Z. Alibaba, 2020. "Window Design of Naturally Ventilated Offices in the Mediterranean Climate in Terms of CO 2 and Thermal Comfort Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-33, January.
    8. Adrian Pitts, 2017. "Passive House and Low Energy Buildings: Barriers and Opportunities for Future Development within UK Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-26, February.
    9. Reihaneh Aram & Halil Zafer Alibaba, 2019. "Thermal Comfort and Energy Performance of Atrium in Mediterranean Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-29, February.
    10. Haiqiang Liu & Zhihao Zhang & Xidong Ma & Weite Lu & Dongze Li & Shoichi Kojima, 2021. "Optimization Analysis of the Residential Window-to-Wall Ratio Based on Numerical Calculation of Energy Consumption in the Hot-Summer and Cold-Winter Zone of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-24, May.
    11. Cirrincione, Laura & Malara, Cristina & Marino, Concettina & Nucara, Antonino & Peri, Giorgia & Pietrafesa, Matilde, 2020. "Effect of the thermal storage dimensions on the performances of solar photovoltaic-thermal systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 2004-2018.
    12. Nari Yoon & Mary Ann Piette & Jung Min Han & Wentao Wu & Ali Malkawi, 2020. "Optimization of Window Positions for Wind-Driven Natural Ventilation Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-25, May.
    13. Aiman Albatayneh & Renad Albadaineh & Adel Juaidi & Ramez Abdallah & Alberto Zabalo & Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro, 2022. "Enhancing the Energy Efficiency of Buildings by Shading with PV Panels in Semi-Arid Climate Zone," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-23, December.
    14. Artur I. Petrov & Daria A. Petrova, 2020. "Sustainability of Transport System of Large Russian City in the Period of COVID-19: Methods and Results of Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-17, September.
    15. Pooya Lotfabadi & Polat Hançer, 2019. "A Comparative Study of Traditional and Contemporary Building Envelope Construction Techniques in Terms of Thermal Comfort and Energy Efficiency in Hot and Humid Climates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-22, June.
    16. Yang Guan & Yonghong Yan, 2016. "Daylighting Design in Classroom Based on Yearly-Graphic Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-17, July.
    17. Mohammad Y. AbuGrain & Halil Z. Alibaba, 2017. "Optimizing Existing Multistory Building Designs towards Net-Zero Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-15, March.
    18. Xiaoling Cui & Xiaoyun Du & Yanzhou Cao & Guochen Sang & Yangkai Zhang & Lei Zhang & Yiyun Zhu, 2020. "Thermophysical Properties Characterization of Sulphoaluminate Cement Mortars Incorporating Phase Change Material for Thermal Energy Storage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-17, September.
    19. Mohammad K. Najjar & Vivian W. Y. Tam & Leandro Torres Di Gregorio & Ana Catarina Jorge Evangelista & Ahmed W. A. Hammad & Assed Haddad, 2019. "Integrating Parametric Analysis with Building Information Modeling to Improve Energy Performance of Construction Projects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-22, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:11:p:2096-:d:118904. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.