Evaluation Criteria of Low Carbon Destination Concept for Resort Design and Renovation in Koh Chang, Thailand

Abstract

Resort or hotel is a type of building widely affecting the global warming and increased level of Green House Gases (GHGs). The proficient selection of architectural components in resort design process has a significant impact on sustainability and energy efficiency of the involved buildings. This research studied the reviewed factors from the resort’s low carbon destination concept, which affect the architectural design of the resort. The reviews included the sustainable architectural design standards and environmental technology theories which are; the Standard of Green Leaf Hotels and, the Thai’s Rating of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (TREES). The concluded key factors were proposed as an improved set of indicators for extended evaluation criteria of resorts and hotel, to include the architectural design impact of the building. The architectural design evaluation and guideline proposal for resort design based on the concept of resort’s low carbon destination were initially tested on tree cases (A) The Dewa, Koh Chang Hotel; (B) The Spa Koh Chang Resort; and (C)The Koh Chang Kacha Resort and Spa. The result revealed that the resort with the most passable evaluation was (B) The Spa Koh Chang Resort followed by (A) The Dewa, Koh Chang Hotel and (C)The Koh Chang Kacha Resort and Spa, respectively. Hence, the researcher further used (C) for an in-depth case study to review the effect of architectural design components through simulation Three computer programs were employed in the simulation processes eQuest 3.64 for energy consumption PHOENICS VR for natural ventilation; and DIALux evo for daylight quality. The simulation results from the improved case(C) with consideration on the improvement of architectural components such as window design for ventilation, the use of low-emissivity glazing, high reflectance paint of wall and roof, the increase of roof projection, the used of window shadings and the landscape design around buildings, revealed the significantly improved evaluation outcomes. In conclusion, these improved components are keys to the success in achieving the sustainable resort’s architectural design indicators and can effectively utilize both daylight quality and natural ventilation to further lower the level of energy usage.