ICCBT2008

Renewable Energy, Buildings and the Fuel Crisis

A. Zain-Ahmed*, Universiti Teknologi MARA, MALAYSIA

ABSTRACT The energy and fuel crisis has not abated since the 1970s. In fact in recent weeks, the price of fuel is gaining momentum and many countries around the world have no alternative but to increase domestic oil process or reduce on government subsidies as in the case of Malaysia. The problem is even worse in developing countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and definitely other countries in the Asia Pacific region. Much effort has been made by governments, organisations and other concerned bodies. These efforts include policy matters, implementation mechanisms, financial incentives and last bit not least, research and development in energy efficiency, alternative energy resources and renewable energy applications and technologies. This paper will focus only on the possible means of reducing the energy consumption specifically in buildings. It highlights the current scenario and efforts made by certain parties to reduce the dependency of buildings on energy and the potential means for future considerations.
Keywords: Energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy consumption in buildings

*Correspondence Author: Prof Dr Azni Zain-Ahmed, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Malaysia.Assoc. Tel: +60355442095, Fax: +60355442096. E-mail: azniz132@salam.uitm.edu.my.

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Renewable energy, buildings and the fuel crisis 1. INTRODUCTION

In the 1970s, the price of oil was relatively cheap and easily available. The main source of energy was oil and the biggest form of energy consumed was, and still is, electricity. However, the oil crisis between 1973 and 1982 due to a major political upheaval which affected the oil producing countries caused a drastic increase in oil prices. Since then the issue of oil production and price is still sensitive. During the following decade, major countries in the world went on looking for new and alternative energy sources as the realization set in that oil reserves from fossil were depleting very fast if no new major discoveries are made. Another major issue was then raised when scientists pointed out that the use of fossil fuels as they were also the main culprit of producing greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other environmental-polluting particles. There were also concerns the world over regarding the thinning of the ozone layer due to excessive chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) produced by air-conditioning systems and aerosols. Finally, In 1987, 46 countries felt compelled to ratify the Montreal Protocol and collectively agreed to reduce the CFCs in the atmosphere. During the 1990s emphasis on the issues of global warming emerged and in 1992 and 1999, more countries signed pacts to reduce the major greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2), in Rio de Janeiro and Kyoto, respectively. Malaysia also signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1993 to promote sustainable development and to address the issues of the reduction of GHGS. The rate of energy consumed is proportional to the rate of CO2 emissions which is also related to the rise of temperature of the earth [1] as shown in Figure 1 which prodeucts the temperature rise every ten years.

3.5 3.0

600 500

2.5 2.0 T (oC) 1.5 300 1.0 0.5 0.0 -0.5 -1.0 Year 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 100 0 200 400 CO2 (ppm) Temperature CO2

Figure 1. Relationship Between Rise in Temperature and CO2 Emissions

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2.

CURRENT FUEL CRISIS

The issue of energy availability and price has not abated ever since and during the first quarter of 2008, the mumblings of fuel price hike was heard again and again all over the world and inevitably when the price of crude oil hit the USD 100 mark, many countries made major changes to address this issue. For example Malaysia raised the price of petrol by 40% from RM 1.92 a litre to RM 2.70 a litre and the price of diesel to RM 2.50 a litre. India raised the price of petrol by 11% and diesel by 9.4% while Taiwan hiked its petrol price by 16%. Indonesia similarly increased its fuel prices amid public dissent. China actually increased its fuel prices by 10% in late 2007 while Japans petrol prices record higher than Malaysias. In the present situation when inflation has risen from 3% to 5% within six months in Malaysia and the impending world recession, the future does not look bright in the energy sector [2]. 3. WORLD ENERGY CONSUMPTION

The increase in world energy consumption is expected to be 65% from 1996 to 2020. 90% of the worlds energy comes from oil which is a conventional energy source. Presently, natural gas is taking over crude oil as the primary energy source and renewable energy is taking over the role of nuclear power as a source of energy in the world. Although by 2020 renewable energy is expected to provide 30% of the worlds energy needed, electricity will still be the largest form of energy consumed. Solar energy and hydrogen and recently, nuclear power are expected to play a significant role in energy production in the long term projection. A survey conducted by the World Energy Council (WEC, 2004) has indicated that the oil reserves in the world will last only another 40 years, natural gas, 60 years and coal 200 years. The development of technologies is expected to produce renewables that will make up 5% of the worlds energy production by 2030. 4. MALAYSIAN ENERGY SECTOR

4.1 Energy Source The main source of energy in Malaysia is petroleum products. However, the percentage of energy from petroleum has declined due to the Fuel Diversification Policy created in 1999. Table 1 shows the quantity of energy demand by source and the percentage contributed by each source. Table 1: Final Commercial Energy Demand By Source (2000 2010) Petajoules (PJ) Percentage (%) Source 2000 2005 2010 2000 2005 2010 Petroleum Products 820.0 1023.1 1372.9 65.9 62.7 61.9 Natural Gas 161.8 246.6 350.0 13.0 15.1 15.8 Electricity 220.4 310.0 420.0 17.7 19.0 18.9 Coal & Coke 41.5 52.0 75.0 3.4 3.2 3.4 Total 1243.7 1631.7 2217.9 100.0 100.0 100.0 Source : Malaysia (2006)
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Renewable energy, buildings and the fuel crisis By 2010, the largest energy demand is still from petroleum products (62%) and followed by electricity (19%) with a gradual increase from natural gas (16%) as shown in Figure 2.

4.2 Energy Demand

The largest consumer of energy is the transport sector accounting to almost half of the total commercial energy demand followed by the industrial sector and the residential and commercial sector (Table 2). Table 2: Final Commercial Energy Demand By Sector 2000 - 2010 Percentage Petajoules (PJ) (%) Source 2000 2005 2010 2000 2005 2010 Industrial 477.6 630.7 859.9 38.4 38.6 38.8 Transport 505.5 661.3 911.7 40.6 40.5 41.1 Residential & Commercial 162.0 213.0 284.9 13.0 13.1 12.8 Non-Energy 94.2 118.7 144.7 7.6 7.3 6.5 Agriculture & Forestry 4.4 8.0 16.7 0.4 0.5 0.8 Total 1243.7 1631.7 2217.9 100.0 100.0 100.0 Source : Malaysia (2006) The energy demand is steadily increasing but the commercial and residential sector is decreasing in terms of percentage. By 2010 the transport and industrial sectors will still remain the largest consumer of energy accounting to 80% of the total energy consumed (Figure 3). The increase in energy demand is seemingly due to the increased quality of life and spending power leading to an increase in electricity consumption and travel. In the 9th

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Malaysia Plan, it has been stated that to improve energy efficiency, the energy consumption will be benchmarked against Denmark, Germany and South Korea [3].

4.3 Energy Supply The total energy supply is expected to increase to 3,127.7 PJ by 2010 (See Table 3). Crude oil, petroleum, natural gas and coal and coke will make up more than 95% of the total energy supplied to the country which means less than 5% is from other sources such as renewable (Figure 4). However it can also be seen that the dependency on crude oil and petroleum is gradually decreasing. The Malaysia government is planning to reduce the energy supply from the conventional sources and to increase the energy supply from renewables. Table 3: Primary Commercial Energy Supply By Source 2000-2010 Percentage Petajoules (PJ) (%) Source 2000 2005 2010 2000 2005 2010 Crude Oil & Petroleum Products 988.1 1181.2 1400.0 49.3 46.8 44.7 Natural Gas 845.6 1043.9 1300.0 42.2 41.3 41.6 Coal & Coke 104.1 230.0 350.0 5.2 9.1 11.2 Hydro 65.3 71.0 77.7 3.3 2.8 2.5 Total 2003.1 4531.1 5137.7 100.0 100.0 100.0 Source : Malaysia (2006)

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Renewable energy, buildings and the fuel crisis

5.

ENERGY IN BUILDINGS

5.1 Buildings and Climate The energy consumption in buildings is very related to the climate. The typical Malaysian climate can be summarized as follows : Very small variation in monthly temperatures (less than 8 0C). Mean daily temperature of the hottest month (February/March) is 27.8oC Coolest month (December) is 25.9oC. Daily temperature exceed the value of 25oC more than 50% of the time Monthly humidities exceed 70% with a mean annual value of 83%. RH exceeds 55% most of the time Wind speeds are quite low with a mean value of 1.2 m/s Prevailing winds blow from the North East, East and South East Rainfall exceeds 200 mm/month for 8 months in a year

The main strategies that are required to keep the indoor conditions cool are dehumidification, cooling and natural ventilation. Design strategies need to take these requirements in order to reduce the thermal stress caused by the hot and humid climate. Modern buildings have resorted to mechanical cooling technologies that inevitably consume fossil energy vis-a-vis electricity [4]. As such, buildings consume about one-third of the worlds energy and the worldwide energy consumption for buildings is expected to grow from 45% from 2002 to 2025 [5]. In the ASEAN region alone, commercial buildings consume well over one-third of all electricity and will account for more than 40% of the demand for additional generating capacity in the near future [6]; The energy consumed is Malaysia is 90% in the form of electricity. If these trends continue, buildings will consume almost as much as industry and transport combined. This is quite alarming as Malaysia has one of the fastest growing building industry in the world [7].
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Where energy consumption in buildings is concerned, buildings can be roughly be divided into residential and non-residential buildings. Commercial buildings in the ASEAN countries consume more than 30% of all the electricity and will demand at least 40% of the additional generating capacity in the near future. However, more than 40% of the energy consumed can be reduced if energy efficiency is practiced and sustainable technologies are applied to buildings. In 2002, 44% of the total energy used in the residential sector in Malaysia was in the form of electricity. In the commercial sector which includes commercial buildings, 75% of the energy consumed is in the form of electricity as shown in Figure 5 and the breakdown of energy used for lighting and air conditioning is as follows [8]. Table 4: Energy consumption by building type in Malaysia (%) Residential Hotels Shopping Offices Complexes Lighting 25.3 18.0 51.9 42.5 Air 8.3 38.5 44.9 51.8 Conditioning Total 33.6 56.5 96.8 94.3

Table 4 shows that commercial buildings use more than 50% of energy used is for lighting and air-conditioning. It is sensible and obvious that lighting and air-conditioning systems are maintained for maximum performance and minimum energy consumption. There is, therefore, enormous potential in energy savings from energy efficiency practices in buildings.
R es idential

K eros ene 6%

E lec tric ity 44%

LP G 40%

N atural G as 10%

Figure 5. Final Energy Demand in the Residential Sector

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Renewable energy, buildings and the fuel crisis

C om m erc ial 4% 5% 0% 9% 7% D ies el P etrol K eros ene LP G N atural G as 75% E lec tric ity

Figure 6. Final Energy Demand in the Commercial Sector The energy demand can be reduced by applying energy efficiency measures coupled with the use of alternative energy sources or renewable energy for hot water systems, drying systems, water pumping and the application of photovoltaic systems for the production of electricity. The following building energy efficiency potentials are attainable [9] : a) 40% to 50% reduction of energy consumption of new buildings b) 15% to 25% in reduction in energy consumption of existing buildings c) shift of electricity demand for buildings from day to night, thus improving the load factor on electricity generating equipment for some ASEAN countries In the Malaysian residential housing sector, the housing stock is made u[p of terrace or linked houses (61%), apartments (27%) and detached (12%). More than 70% of the detached houses are air conditioned while 62% of the terrace houses and 36% apartments (as shown in Figure 7) are air conditioned [10]. This clearly shows that the bigger houses tend to be air conditioned than the smaller houses and suggests that the purchasing power of applicants is proportional to the installed air conditioners.

Detached 12%

Apartment 27%

Terrace 61%

Figure 7. Distribution of housing stock based on type

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5.2 Building Energy Index and Building Codes of Practice The energy consumption in buildings is normally given in terms of the Building Energy Index or BEI. The South East Average BEI is 233 kWh/m2/yr whereby the Malaysian and Singaporean average are 269 kWh/m2/yr and 230 kWh/m2/yr respectively. The Malaysian Ministry of Energy, Water and Communication (MEWC) or previously known as the Ministry of Energy, Communication and Multimedia (MECM) before the year 2004; introduced the Guidelines for Energy Efficiency in Non-Domestic Buildings in 1989 [12] which was meant to be a building code of practice. In the first version, the BEI was recommended to be not more than 135 kWh/m2/yr. In 2001, it was improved to include revised equations based on the latest research work on local buildings. As the energy efficiency awareness was beginning to set in at the time, the BEI of several new buildings began to demonstrate a decrease in value. The guidelines now were renamed as the Malaysian Standard MS 1525:2001 [13]. The purpose of the MS were as follows : a) To encourage the design of new and existing buildings so that they may be constructed, operated and maintained in a manner that reduces the use of energy without constraining the building function, nor the comfort or productivity of the occupants and with appropriate regard for cost considerations. b) To provide the criteria and minimum standards for energy efficiency in the design of new buildings, retrofit of existing buildings and methods for determining compliance with these criteria and minimum standards c) To provide guidance for energy efficiency designs that demonstrate good professional judgment and exceeds minimum standards criteria. The standards were later improved in 2007 [14] to include the following : a) To provide guidance for energy efficiency designs that demonstrate good professional judgment and exceeds minimum standards criteria; and b) To encourage the application of renewable energy in new and existing buildings to minimize non-renewable energy sources, pollution and energy consumption whist maintaining comfort, health and safety of the occupants. The most important inclusion was in the additional objective statement : To encourage the application of renewable energy in new and existing buildings to minimize non-renewable energy sources, pollution and energy consumption whist maintaining comfort, health and safety of the occupants. The MS 1525:2007 sets out minimum standards for designers to design and select equipment above those stipulated in the code in the following areas: architectural and passive design; building envelope, lighting, electric power and distribution; air conditioning and mechanical ventilation system (ACMV) and energy management system.

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Renewable energy, buildings and the fuel crisis The architectural and passive design component provides guidelines for the following : Sustainable design approach Passive design strategy Site planning and orientation Daylighting Facade design Natural Ventilation Strategic landscaping Use of Renewable Energy

Most importantly, the sustainable design approach was defined as A combined architectural, engineering, site planning and landscaping (multidisciplinary) approach to designing an energy conscious building should optimize the energy efficiency of a building especially in employing combined passive and active devices. If seriously and diligently followed, the guidelines provide a practical and innovative manual that is decidedly both prescriptive and yet allows for building designers to create their own avenues to reduce heat gains, improve ventilation and provide natural cooling with minimum dependence on energy consuming technologies. In addition to energy efficient and passive design considerations, the applications of renewable energy relevant to buildings that should be incorporated are as follows: solar energy for heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting (daylighting); photovoltaics for electricity; building integrated photovoltaics; integrated building devices such as photovoltaic shading devices; integrated passive solar and active systems for heating/ cooling/ lighting

5.3 Research and Development Presently, many public and private universities have embarked on various research and development work in sustainable buildings or energy-efficient building technologies for future applications in buildings that would ultimately consume less fuel to construct and maintain. As such the Centre for Research and Innovation in Sustainable Energy (RISE) at Universiti Teknologi MARA has embarked on several major projects that have thus far produced a few innovative technologies such as the a fibre optic daylighting system [14], solar assisted integrated lighting and ventilation system [15] , an insulation material based on oil palm empty fruit bunches for roofing and potential building materials [16] and in the near future an advance polymer for energy efficient glazing material.
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6.

CONCLUSION

It is very obvious that the issue of energy, environment and prices are the most recent global concern. There are several ways to mitigate these problems and must be tackled carefully. Some issues may be set to be given equal priority as the harnessing of new, alternative and renewable energy sources. Simultaneously, the efficiency of buildings need to be given much attention to minimize the dependency of conventional energy sources to maintain them. More funding need to be injected into the development of new building technologies that could include the use of renewable or renewable technologies applied to buildings. Sufficient guidelines and demonstration projects have been introduced by the government and therefore the onus is on the rest of society to make good of these opportunities to secure a better future. The present scenario has presented the gravity of the issue that should cause many members of the general public to be more responsive towards the call for the reduction of conventional energy source utilisation. However, much more could be done by many parties to ensure that buildings are not only comfortable in hot and humid climates but are also do not contribute towards the energy crisis. Acknowledgments Universiti Teknologi MARA, the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation are duly acknowledged for the support and encouragement to pursue research and development in this particular field. REFERENCES [1]. A. Clerici. WEC Survey of Energy Resources. 19th World Energy Congress, Sydney, Australia, Sept. 2004. [2]. MSN News : (http:/news.my.msn.com/). June, 2008. [3]. Malaysia. The Ninth Malaysia Plan 2006-2010. 2006. [4]. A. Zain-Ahmed, S. Abdul Rahman, A. Ahmad, S. M. Ayop, S. Ahmed, F. Sulaiman and A. R. Othman. Passive Solar Cooling and Lighting Applications in Tropical Buildings. World Renewable Energy Regional Conference & Exhibition (WRERCE 2005). Jakarta, Indonesia. 17-21 April 2005. [5]. H. Klee. Energy Efficiency in Buildings (EEB) Project. 2007. [6]. Ministry of Energy, Communication and Multimedia. Keynote Address. National Seminar on Energy Efficiency in Buildings. Kuala Lumpur. 2001. [7]. ABCSE. Renewable Energy in Asia: Malaysia Report. Australia. 2007. [8] L. Ramatha. Energy in buildings in Malaysia. Proc. of AEEMTRCs 12th SeminarWorkshop, Energy in Buildings, ed. A.G. Verdote, pp 335-346, AEEMTRC, Jakarta. 1994. [9]. K. Kannan. Energy Efficiency in Buildings, National Seminar on Energy Efficiency. Kuala Lumpur. 2001.

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Renewable energy, buildings and the fuel crisis [10]. T. Kubota. Usage of Air-conditioners and windows in residential areas in Johor bahru city: Planning methods of coastal residential areas in consideration of wind flow. 7th Int. Seminar on Sustainable Environment & Architecture, Hassanudin Univ. Makassar, Indonesia. 20-21 November 2006. [11]. Malaysia. Guidelines for Energy Efficiency in Non-Residential Buildings. 1989. [12]. Malaysia. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Applications in Non-Residential Buildings. Codes of Practice. SIRIM MS 1525:2001. [13]. Malaysia. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Applications in Non-Residential Buildings. Codes of Practice. SIRIM MS 1525:2007. [14]. F. Sulaiman, A. Ahmad and A. Zain-Ahmed. Fuzzy logic automated dimming control used in passive optical fiber daylighting system for energy savings. World Scientific & Engineering Academy & Society, WSEAS Transactions on Electronics, Issue 4, Vol. 2. Oct. 2005. ISSN 1109-9445. [15]. S. Ahmed, A. Zain-Ahmed, S. Abdul Rahman and M.H. Sharif. Predictive Tools for Evaluating Daylighting Performance of Light Pipes. Int. Journal of Low Carbon Technologies, Vol 1 (4). Oct. 2006. pp. 315-328. ISSN 1748-1317. [16]. B. H. Mohd Noor, S. Abdul Rahman, A. Zain-Ahmed. Thermal Performance of Roof Systems in Tropical Climates. Proc. Int. Symposium on Sustainable Energy and Environment. ISESEE 2006. 3-6 Dec. 2006, Kuala Lumpur.

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