UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA

FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT

ASSIGNMENT #2

NAME : JAHMAI SMITH

ID : 1802216

APRIL 2023

LECTURER: PETER CLARKE

Question:

BCM / B.Eng. 2022 – 2023 – Service Engineering

Assignment #2 – Group

Submission. – Due: Friday April 21, 2023

Weighting: 35% of overall Course Marks

Conduct an Energy Audit of a commercial / office building of your choice.

Provide an Audit Report that outlines the results of your investigation.

This Energy Audit will provide the information that an Energy Manager may need to identify

energy consumption patterns and components of a facility and document existing conditions.

Identify and prioritize energy conservation opportunities so that the Energy Manager can identify

and avoid unnecessary expenditures, while improving building operation and comfort.
INTRODUCTION: The St. James Municipal building is a building located on 19A Union Street

in Montego Bay. Historically, energy consumption trends have determined that the months of

June and July are the time period for the heaviest usage of energy. On the other hand, December

/ January is the time period in which the least energy is used. The building has four stories, with

a total area of 35090.15 sq ft and an energy consumption of approximately 365,649 kWh / Yr.

Figure 1.1 showing picture of St. James Municipal Building in Montego Bay, Jamaica
FINDINGS

As previously mentioned, the energy consumption is greatest in the summer. This is due to the

heavier usage of air conditioning units in the building. Approximately 30,000 kWh is used

during the month of July while in the month of December, 19,880 kWh is used. The power

ratings of each energy end user's constituent components were added to determine the end user's

overall power rating. The annual runtime of each component was then calculated using

information from questioning staff members and some metering. After aggregating the power

ratings of each component of the end use, the weighted average duration for the end use was

computed and is presented on the table below.

Electrical Equipment Power Rating (kW) Weight Avg. Run Consumption

Time (kWh / Yr)

Air Conditioning 100.11 1720 172189.2

Lighting 45.05 3100 139655

Office Equipment 18.43 1500 27645

Others-(generator 13.08 2000 26160

and miscellaneous

Elevator)

Total 176.67 8320 365649

The table displays the overall energy consumption by electrical equipment. The four energy end

uses display both the annualized average run time and the total power ratings for all equipment.

The total consumption, which is determined by multiplying the total power rating by the average

yearly run time, is also shown. The electrical equipment that consumes the most energy is air

conditioning (172189.2 kWh/Yr) followed by lighting (139655 kWh/Yr), office equipment

(27645 kWh/Yr), and other items (26160 kWh/Yr). Office equipment consists of computers,

printers, shredders and photocopying machines. Other electrical appliances were grouped

together under the ‘other’ category.

In terms of how to determine efficiency, the Building Energy Index (BEI) is used. This is

expressed as the total energy consumption per unit of occupied area. According to the MS1525

Standard, the recommended BEI for a commercial building is 135 kWh/ m²/ yr. The BEI, when

calculated for the St. James Municipal building is 112.16 kWh/ m²/ yr. This falls within the

threshold of being acceptable based on MS1525 Standard and means that the building is

operating in an energy efficient manner. Despite this, measures can be put in place to further

reduce the BEI, thus enabling installation of more equipment which can increase the

functionality of the municipal organization.

Recommendations

Based on results of the energy audit, the following can be done to increase functionality, comfort

and energy efficiency for staff members.

1. Upgrade air conditioning and ventilation system to a more efficient model.

2. Install insulation on the walls and ceilings where appropriate to reduce heat loss, hence

saving energy.

3. Upgrade the lighting fixtures to a more modern, energy efficient model.

4. Replace the glass windows and doors that need replacing as some models have become

outdated.

5. Install on-grid solar panels to reduce the overall usage of energy, reducing monthly

energy bills.

6. It is essential to implement an energy management and control system to operate the

building mechanical and electrical systems in the most energy and cost effective manner

possible.
Conclusion

In conclusion, the energy audit has identified several energy conservation opportunities that can

be implemented to reduce energy consumption and improve building operation and comfort. The

identified opportunities should be prioritized based on their potential energy savings and

cost-effectiveness. The implementation of these measures will not only result in significant

energy savings but will also reduce operating costs and improve the building's environmental

footprint.