Intervention mechanisms to reduce energy consumption of air-conditioning and illumination systems for commercial buildings

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the cost-effective mechanisms to reduce energy demand consumption in SASOL Fuels Application Centre (SFAC) building in South Africa. It focuses on the commercial facility’s total real power (kW) and reactive power (KVAR), which together contributes to high demand (KVA) spark resulting in high demand energy costs, which has a direct influence on the high electricity bills issued to commercial businesses worldwide. The demand sparks are caused by current’s instantaneous hike which as a result caused pressure to power producer. Then, the producer issues penalties in the form of demand charges resulting in a high electricity bill. The energy consumption reduction of commercial buildings can be achieved through the implementation of a power metering system to measure the total kW, KVA, KVAR and power factor. The study presents DSM techniques as a model suitable for reduction of demand load consumptions and demonstrates a range of energy conservation options available for baseline reduction to contribute to lower total electricity consumption of SFAC. The preferred method for the study was power factor improvement aimed at correcting the current spark by discharging the set of required capacitor banks to compensate for the demand. The power simulator software model was developed to simulate the real power together with the desired power factor and the reduction of approximately 10% on electricity bill was realised.