Optimizing the energy saving potential of public hospital through a systematic approach for green building certification in Malaysia. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abd Rahman, Noor Muhammad; Lim, Chin Haw; Fazlizan, Ahmad
• Is Part Of: Journal of building engineering. Volume 43(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: Energy saving -- Green building -- Public hospital -- Systematic approach; Building -- Periodicals; 690.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103088
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-7102

Abstract

Abstract: Hospital buildings are the main energy users among government facilities which require substantial energy reduction to save its annual operational costs. At the same time, the Ministry of Health Malaysia has set a policy for all hospitals to achieve green building certification, which in line with its global commitment to conserve the environment. Energy efficiency is an important component in every green building rating tool because of its high potential on point scoring. Thus, there is a need to find the most appropriate method to explore energy saving opportunities as much as possible. The overall aim of this article is to evaluate the potential for energy saving in public hospital using a systematic approach. Three methods are applied in this approach which involved energy audit, empirical evidence and simulation works. Energy audit predicts that the chiller system provides the highest energy saving amount of 1, 535, 175.40 kWh/year (45.54 %) with discounted payback period of 7.15 years. A chiller retrofit measure was implemented as pilot project and the predicted energy savings were validated by empirical evidence. The actual energy saving of 1, 688, 347.02 kWh/year (50.08 %) was obtained from the chiller system retrofit and slightly higher than what was predicted with discounted payback period of 6.29 years. Apart from active measures, many more energy saving potentials can still be explored through passive strategies. Simulation method is used to establish energy baseline as the basis for predicting energy saving potential for passive strategies that cannot not be measured through energy audit. The combination of these methods is essential to optimize the potential of energy saving through active and passive strategies that have so far has never been implemented in any public hospital in Malaysia. Highlights: Energy audits, empirical evidence and simulations methods were used in this energy study. The actual energy saving was found to be slightly higher than what had been predicted. Simulations were performed to establish an energy baseline for passive strategies. The combination of these methods is essential to optimize the energy saving potential.