Retrofit Analysis of Exterior Windows for Large Office Buildings in Different Climate Zones of China
In the energy-saving retrofit of existing buildings, investors are particularly concerned about the energy-saving performance of exterior windows and the payback period of additional costs. This study evaluates representative cities in four different climate zones in China to simulate the energy con...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/3904 |
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| author | Sai Liu Farid E. Mohamed Ghazali Jingjing Yang Zongkang Guo Kejun Zeng Yixing Chen |
| author_facet | Sai Liu Farid E. Mohamed Ghazali Jingjing Yang Zongkang Guo Kejun Zeng Yixing Chen |
| author_sort | Sai Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the energy-saving retrofit of existing buildings, investors are particularly concerned about the energy-saving performance of exterior windows and the payback period of additional costs. This study evaluates representative cities in four different climate zones in China to simulate the energy consumption of large office buildings after replacing different glass windows and conducting energy-saving and economic feasibility assessments. The research method includes the following steps: First, a baseline model of large office buildings in four cities was established using AutoBPS and OpenStudio. Then, the baseline and retrofit models of replacing glass windows were simulated using the EnergyPlus V9.3.0 to obtain multiple hourly energy consumption results. The commercial electricity and gas prices in the four cities were adjusted to calculate the total cost within 20 years after replacing different types of windows. Using the discounted payback period (DPP), net present value (NPV), and profitability index (PI) as evaluation indicators, a feasibility analysis was conducted in the four regions to evaluate the economic feasibility of replacing building windows. The simulation results show that considering economic feasibility and meeting energy-saving standards, it is more economical to choose windows with moderate U-value and SHGC value in the four regions than to choose windows with the smallest U-value and SHGC value, and that both energy savings and economic benefits are closely related to building age, with older buildings (especially those in Changsha and Shenzhen) showing greater benefits. Furthermore, the optimal window types in the four cities determined in this study can recover the investment cost within the window life, with Harbin (SC), Beijing (C), Changsha (HC), and Shenzhen (HW) with the payback period of 6.60, 15.66, 10.16, and 11.42 years, respectively. The research model established in this study provides a useful evaluation path for selecting windows for the energy-saving retrofit of large office buildings in cities in different climate zones and provides data support for the decision making of energy-saving retrofit investors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ca023037ecc54b769ef062f428de6a54 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-ca023037ecc54b769ef062f428de6a542025-08-20T02:57:12ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092024-12-011412390410.3390/buildings14123904Retrofit Analysis of Exterior Windows for Large Office Buildings in Different Climate Zones of ChinaSai Liu0Farid E. Mohamed Ghazali1Jingjing Yang2Zongkang Guo3Kejun Zeng4Yixing Chen5School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal 14300, MalaysiaSchool of Civil Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal 14300, MalaysiaCollege of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, ChinaIn the energy-saving retrofit of existing buildings, investors are particularly concerned about the energy-saving performance of exterior windows and the payback period of additional costs. This study evaluates representative cities in four different climate zones in China to simulate the energy consumption of large office buildings after replacing different glass windows and conducting energy-saving and economic feasibility assessments. The research method includes the following steps: First, a baseline model of large office buildings in four cities was established using AutoBPS and OpenStudio. Then, the baseline and retrofit models of replacing glass windows were simulated using the EnergyPlus V9.3.0 to obtain multiple hourly energy consumption results. The commercial electricity and gas prices in the four cities were adjusted to calculate the total cost within 20 years after replacing different types of windows. Using the discounted payback period (DPP), net present value (NPV), and profitability index (PI) as evaluation indicators, a feasibility analysis was conducted in the four regions to evaluate the economic feasibility of replacing building windows. The simulation results show that considering economic feasibility and meeting energy-saving standards, it is more economical to choose windows with moderate U-value and SHGC value in the four regions than to choose windows with the smallest U-value and SHGC value, and that both energy savings and economic benefits are closely related to building age, with older buildings (especially those in Changsha and Shenzhen) showing greater benefits. Furthermore, the optimal window types in the four cities determined in this study can recover the investment cost within the window life, with Harbin (SC), Beijing (C), Changsha (HC), and Shenzhen (HW) with the payback period of 6.60, 15.66, 10.16, and 11.42 years, respectively. The research model established in this study provides a useful evaluation path for selecting windows for the energy-saving retrofit of large office buildings in cities in different climate zones and provides data support for the decision making of energy-saving retrofit investors.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/3904EnergyPluswindowsbuilding energy simulationeconomic analysis |
| spellingShingle | Sai Liu Farid E. Mohamed Ghazali Jingjing Yang Zongkang Guo Kejun Zeng Yixing Chen Retrofit Analysis of Exterior Windows for Large Office Buildings in Different Climate Zones of China Buildings EnergyPlus windows building energy simulation economic analysis |
| title | Retrofit Analysis of Exterior Windows for Large Office Buildings in Different Climate Zones of China |
| title_full | Retrofit Analysis of Exterior Windows for Large Office Buildings in Different Climate Zones of China |
| title_fullStr | Retrofit Analysis of Exterior Windows for Large Office Buildings in Different Climate Zones of China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Retrofit Analysis of Exterior Windows for Large Office Buildings in Different Climate Zones of China |
| title_short | Retrofit Analysis of Exterior Windows for Large Office Buildings in Different Climate Zones of China |
| title_sort | retrofit analysis of exterior windows for large office buildings in different climate zones of china |
| topic | EnergyPlus windows building energy simulation economic analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/3904 |
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