This project was developed with the objective of reducing energy consumption and improving the environmental performance of a high-rise residential building located in Tamil Nadu, India.
The primary strategy focused on minimizing building energy demand through passive design approaches, efficient systems, and partially offsetting electricity consumption using rooftop photovoltaic(PV) panels.
In this study, the building’s energy demand was first reduced, and the remaining portion was partially compensated through renewable energy generation. This methodology aligns with international green building principles and standards such as ASHRAE 90.1 and LEED.
For the energy performance analysis, the building was modeled in DesignBuilder based on the architectural drawings and actual project specifications. All relevant parameters, including construction materials, mechanical systems, occupancy schedules, lighting, ventilation, and openings, were incorporated into the model.
The thermal performance and energy consumption analyses were carried out on an annual basis, enabling the evaluation of the building’s behavior under the city’s actual climatic conditions.
In the first stage, the building’s energy performance was evaluated based on the initial design specifications. Simulation results indicated that the total annual electricity consumption reached 1.34 GWh.
Key Results:
Monthly analysis demonstrated that peak energy consumption occurred during the hottest months of the year, when high outdoor temperatures and humidity significantly increased cooling demand.
To reduce heat transfer through the building envelope, double-glazed windows and thermally efficient materials were implemented. Scientific studies indicate that envelope optimization can reduce cooling energy consumption by approximately 15–35%.
The VRF system was selected due to its high efficiency, zoning flexibility, and energy recovery capabilities, making it highly suitable for high-rise buildings in hot climates. According to ASHRAE research, VRF systems can provide up to 30% energy savings compared to conventional HVAC systems.
The implementation of LED lighting reduced electricity consumption and lowered internal heat gains within the building.
In the final stage, rooftop photovoltaic panels were integrated to offset part of the building’s electricity demand. The system was designed to reduce grid dependency and carbon emissions. Based on scientific data, photovoltaic systems in high solar radiation regions such as southern India can achieve substantial energy generation efficiency.
The thermal analysis revealed that cooling loads represented the dominant portion of the building’s energy consumption.
The main contributing factors included:
The analyses demonstrated that optimizing the building envelope and implementing efficient mechanical systems can significantly reduce overall energy consumption.
The results of this study demonstrated that integrating passive design strategies, high-efficiency mechanical systems, and solar energy can significantly improve the energy performance of high-rise buildings in hot-humid climates.The DesignBuilder simulations revealed that cooling loads accounted for the largest share of energy consumption, and that optimizing the building envelope, implementing VRF systems, and integrating photovoltaic panels could substantially reduce energy use and carbon emissions.
This project represents a practical example of sustainable design in high-rise buildings and can serve as a reference model for future developments in similar climatic regions.
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