Energy efficiency optimization for building envelopes on a green campus in Guangzhou

Abstract

Prediction and optimization of energy consumption is valuable to recognize the status and assist in green campus retrofitting and energy efficiency making. The study focused retrofit strategies in subtropical Guangzhou to achieve energy efficiency in a higher educational campus. According to the building's envelope features, optimization using a pseudo orthogonal test based on assumption of window design. In this paper, field investigation and numerical simulation were used to assess the thermal performance of this building. The prediction was primarily verified using a numerical simulation with 16 cases. It was concluded: (1) on basic cases, the results revealed the methods' reliability based on Energy-plus is adopted in the green campus; (2) the retrofit cases in thermal performance considering the building envelop, solar shading and windows' glazing; (3) the rooms of divergent orientation play varied significant role in energy consumption. The study provided the technic support for the energy optimization strategies of campus building in hot humid area.