Energy efficiency performance model for office buildings In Malaysia

Abstract

Energy consumption in Malaysia has risen sharply and it is mostly contributed by commercial buildings. Energy benchmarking is necessary to improve the overall use of energy. This study aims to develop the baseline consumption and energy performance benchmark model through Building Energy Index (BEI). Energy audit reports from 25 office buildings in Malaysia were analysed to identify the factors that contribute to energy performance of office buildings. Regression analysis, via Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and Robust Least Trimmed Square (LTS) regression, was used to formulate baseline energy model and also Building Energy Index (BEI) model. Three other buildings were selected as samples for validation and verification of the model. The results showed Baseline Robust LTS model had the accuracy of 99.93%. This is followed by BEI(GFA) with accuracy of 68.64%, while BEI(ACA)’s accuracy was recorded at 72.65%. These results showed that the model deducted from Robust LTS method for Baseline, BEI(GFA) and BEI(ACA) are applicable and feasible due to the accuracy. The validation showed that 6 from 9 cases were found to have less than 10% errors which is equivalent to 66.67%. This indicates that the model is applicable to predict energy efficiency in real situation for office buildings in Malaysia. This study established that Robust LTS models are able to predict the baseline and energy performance of office buildings by using single set of data, which is a holistic approach in determining the energy performance of office buildings.