Energy life cycle cost analyzing (ELCCA) in residential building to energy efficiency approach in Malaysia

Abstract

The usage of residential electrical appliances for the last two decades has increased rapidly in Malaysia together with the increasing income per capita. Like other developing countries with hot and humid climates, Malaysia has been experiencing dramatic growth in the number of use of air conditioners, and the usage will be higher in the future. So, energy efficiency is one of the most important issues that be faced in Malaysia. The aim of this research is making optimal decision for energy efficiency in residential building sector through analyzing results of energy life cycle costing (ELCC) research. Energy life cycle cost analyzing (ELCCA), as a subset of LCC is a decisionmaking tool for building owners and designers. It provides a means of comparing the present values of two or more design alternatives. A material model is developed early in the design process using energy modeling software for the basic building design. The results shows that single materials layer (brick, concrete and hollow concrete block) with high dense insulation panel are the optimal ones in compare of others. Meanwhile, double materials with insulation panels which have the lowest energy consumption rates, are not effective. The outcomes of the study would help construction professionals specially designers to make a better decision in selecting external wall materials for energy efficiency purpose.