Towards nearly zero energy buildings in Panama through low-consumption techniques: A numerical study

Abstract

With the aim of promoting Nearly Zero Energy Buildings in Panama, the implementation of low-consumption techniques is studied here via dynamic simulations. For this, a Test model based on the generic construction materials for envelope composition implemented in Panama's standard buildings was developed in DesignBuilder software to evaluate some low-consumption techniques, such as occupancy profile change, free cooling strategies, and modifications of the envelope composition. The envelope composition of an NZEB encountered in Playa Venao, Panama, is also examined. After implementing the low-consumption techniques, the net energy consumption of the Test model remains far from laying within the energy ranges to be considered as an NZEB. However, this numerical study has shown promising results using few low-consumption techniques, which have managed to reduce the energy consumption of the building in 35% with respect to the original energy consumption of the Test model reference.