Impact of Adding Comfort Cooling Systems on the Energy Consumption and EPC Rating of an Existing UK Hotel

Abstract

In light of the recent launch of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard and its expected impact on the commercial buildings sector, this study investigated the impact of adding cooling systems on the annual energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of an existing UK hotel. Thermal Analysis Software (TAS) was used to conduct the study, and the baseline model was validated against the actual data. As is the current accepted procedure in EPC generating in the UK, the cooling set points of the guest rooms were set to 25 • C, resulting in a small increase in the annual energy consumption and emission rates, but not enough to change the energy performance certificate rating. Also, it was found that an improvement in energy consumption and energy performance certificate rating of the hotel would be achieved if the new systems replaced the existing heating systems in the guest rooms. Further simulations investigated more realistic situations, in which occupants may decide to keep their rooms at cooler temperatures. The results from this round of simulations showed considerable increase in the energy consumption and emissions of the building; however, these results would not be considered in the current approved procedure for EPC generating.

Overcoming the incumbency and barriers to sustainable cooling

“…Deep changes in consumers' demand and suppliers' offers are required to shape the market of cooling, moving towards considering more variables which directly impact thermal comfort, including temperature, humidity, radiant temperature, air velocity, clothing and metabolic rate (BCA 2015). It is suggested to eliminate the criteria of a fixed AC set-point temperature to fulfil building regulation requirements and calculate EPCs for buildings (Amirkhani et al 2020;CREDS 2018;IDAE 2009; Ministerio de Fomento del Gobierno de España 2020; UK Government 2021). For example, integrating fans to increase airspeed with ACs can also increase the set-point temperature from 25 to 27°C without sacrificing thermal comfort, reducing energy consumption by more than 21% (Hoyt et al 2015;Luo et al 2021;Malik et al 2022;Schiavon & Melikov 2008).…”

“…Tools to simulate the energy demand of buildings in order to fulfil building codes, emit EPCs or size AC systems use a fixed set-point temperature to calculate cooling needs. For example, in the case of Spain and the UK for cooling, the set-point temperature for EPCs is defined at 25°C (Amirkhani et al 2020;IDAE 2009; Ministerio de Fomento del Gobierno de España 2020). The steady-state approach (or PMV/PPD method) proposed by Fanger (1970) predicts the mean thermal sensation and percentage of dissatisfaction of a given group of people in the environment considering all comfort parameters.…”