Integration of life cycle cost analysis and energy simulation for green building using eQUEST as energy modeling software and Royal Wings Hotel as a case study
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Date
2020
Authors
Adnan, Ruba
Mansour, Hiba
Al-Madani, Danya
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Abstract
An increase in the rate of well-being through the last decades has led to an increase in dependence on the services sector and thus rising in the energy consumption and environmental impact in this sector. Hotel buildings generally consume more energy than other types of public buildings, so measures should be adopted to reduce their energy demands. On the other side, reducing energy consumption required high initial costs. So, there is a big challenge in choosing the funding method. The appropriate choice determines the success of the project.
This study aimed to simulate the energy consumption of the Royal Wings Hotel to determine the main factors with high energy consumption, then generated energy conservation measures to reduce monthly bills. After that, a life cycle cost analysis was made to discuss the feasibility of the energy management projects.
eQuest was used as energy analysis software and its accuracy was discussed by comparing the results with the actual bills. The results from the modeling indicated that the cooling system had the highest electric consumption, followed by the lighting system and equipment loads. After applying a more efficient lighting system, adding polystyrene insulation, and applying both, a 4.2%, 9.4%, and 13.9% saving in the annual energy consumption was noticed respectively.
The energy results from the eQuest were used in the LCCA. The analysis was performed using cash and loan funding methods. The NPV, AW, SPP, DPP, and IRR were calculated for the whole case, and it was found that Case three had the highest NPV and AW, and lowest SPP and DPP, which made it preferable in both energy and economic fields. Also, the results showed that the loan was the best choice for funding.