Abstract:
The world is witnessing an increasing trend in energy consumption due to several
reasons of which the most important ones are the increase in population size,
technology developments, and country social and economic development. Such
increasing trends lead to more rapid resources depletion and more harmful gaseous
emissions and greenhouse gases being emitted to the atmosphere from the combustion
of various energy resources especially fossil fuels.
Several research studies have been conducted to understand this increasing energy
trend, specifically from office and residential buildings, and its negative consequences
on the economy and heath. These studies seek to find solutions for better energy
sustainability measures and resource allocations management through modifying the
user’s energy consumption trends without affecting the personal comfort, in addition to
further developments of renewable energy resources.
This Thesis aims at studying different building energy conservation measures and
provides economic feasibility. In addition, it will examine the deployment of renewable
energy resources, namely PV cells, to aid in the transition to clean energy. The Thesis
work will make use of the Negawatt concept which is based on assessing the feasibility
of establishing more efficient technologies to lower energy consumption rather than
expanding the power supply to meet increased demand.
The feasibility study of a small Hybrid Negawatt power plant for a recently constructed
office building at the American University of Beirut (AUB) is assessed. Various
conservation measures are assessed mainly focusing on reducing energy consumption
during unoccupancy periods, in addition to addressing alternative technologies, such as
more efficient lighting and upgrading the double-glazed windows. A rooftop PV canopy
design system is proposed, while maintaining the unique roof terrace and its wonderful
sea view. The feasibility study carried out compares the cost of implementing these
measures and alternative technologies to the cost of expanding the supplied thermal
power from conventional fossil fuels. The results show that the hybrid Negawatt
solution is more economically feasible, especially where certain mitigation measures
require only managerial and behavioral adjustments at no additional costs.