Browsing by Author "Amarasinghe, SDIA"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5

item: Conference-Abstract
Analysing the gap between predicted and actual operational energy consumption in buildings: a review
(2021-07) Rajithan, M; Soorige, D; Amarasinghe, SDIA
Operational energy consumption in buildings has a crucial impact on global energy consumption. Nevertheless, significant energy savings can be achieved in buildings if properly designed, constructed, and operated. Building Energy Simulation (BES) plays a vital role in the design and optimisation of buildings. BES is used to compare the cost-effectiveness of energy-conservation measures in the design stage and assess various performance optimisation measures during the operational phase. However, there is a significant ‘performance gap’ between the predicted and the actual energy performance of buildings. This gap has reduced the trust and application of the BES. This article focused on investigating BES, reasons that lead to a performance gap between predicted and actual operational energy consumption of buildings, and the ways of minimising the gap. The article employed a comprehensive literature review as the research methodology. Findings revealed that reasons such as limited understanding of the building design, the complexity of the building design, poor commissioning, occupants’ behaviour, etc., influence the energy performance gap. After that, the strategies have been identified to minimise the energy performance gap such as proper commissioning, creating general models to observe occupants’ behaviour in buildings, and using the general models for energy simulation, ensuring better construction and quality through training and education, etc. Further, the findings of this study could be implemented by practitioners in the construction industry to effectively use energy simulation applications in designing energy-efficient and sustainable buildings.
item: Conference-Full-text
Comparative study on establishing life cycle assessment (LCA) in buildings: drivers
(2020-11-06) Amarasinghe, SDIA; Soorige, SDA; De Silva, L
LCA is a method that systematically evaluates environmental impacts attributed to the building by quantifying environmental inputs and outputs over the lifecycle of buildings. LCA facilitates a sophisticated assessment procedure to promote eco-efficient designs to reduce environmental impacts. Although building-related LCAs are well-rooted in developed counties, it is challenging to disclose evidence of LCA application in Sri Lanka as a developing country. Therefore, this study aims to compare drivers that promote the application of LCA in developed countries and Sri Lanka to determine the deviation between two contexts. The qualitative research approach was adopted, and expert interviews were conducted with ten experts from Sri Lanka and nine LCA experts representing developed countries. The results indicated that 'identifying opportunities to improve environmental sustainability,' discovering energy-saving opportunities' etc. are the mostly identified drivers related to developed countries. In contrast, the mostly identified drivers in Sri Lanka were limited to two as 'growing industrial interest to build more green buildings' and 'as a new tool for R&D'. Initiation of strong government policies and effective incentive mechanisms, rising awareness on LCA, etc. identified as strategies to bridge the deviation between Sri Lanka from developed countries context in the implementation of LCA.
item: Conference-Abstract
Energy retrofits for improving energy efficiency in buildings: a review of HVAC and lighting systems
(2021-07) Amjath, MR; Chandanie, H; Amarasinghe, SDIA
It has been observed that inefficient buildings consume three to five times more energy than efficient buildings. Subsequently, improving the Energy Efficiency (EE) of existing buildings, which account for a significant portion of the energy consumption of the building sector, has become a top priority. Also, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and lighting systems typically account for three-quarters of a building's energy consumption. Hence, focus on the energy efficiency improvements associated with these subsystems is entailed to optimise the energy use of buildings in comparison to other energy consumers. Energy Retrofit (ER) is defined as the main approach in improving the energy efficiency of buildings to achieve energy reduction goals. Nevertheless, there is a general lack of awareness regarding ER. Thus, the purpose of this article is to bridge this research gap by critically reviewing the applicable literature on ER. The paper first analysed the role of retrofits in buildings concerning optimising energy performance. The paper also discusses the implementation process of ER, which includes five steps viz. pre-retrofit survey, energy auditing, and performance assessment, identification of suitable and feasible retrofit options, site implementation and commissioning, and validation and verification. Further, different types of ER applicable to HVAC and lighting systems are discussed. In their endeavor to enhance the EE of existing buildings, practitioners could apply the findings of this study, as a basis to understand the available ER types and as a measure to gauge the efficiency of existing buildings, which will facilitate effective decision-making.
item: Conference-Full-text
Essential stakeholder contributions for establishing life cycle assessment (lca) in the construction industry: a desk study
Amarasinghe, SDIA; Hadiwattage, C
In recent times, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been evolved in globally as an analytical tool that systematically and holistically investigates cumulative environmental impacts associated with the entire building lifecycle from its cradle-to grave. Moreover, LCA approach has become a well-rooted concept internationally as a decision making tool due to the collaborative activities between main five (05) stakeholders i.e. academia, government, construction industry, civil society, and the natural environment. In contrast, it is difficult to find evidence on the application of LCA in Sri Lankan construction industry. Also, there is increasing interest in applying LCA, as Sri Lankan construction industry has been criticised due to the environmental pollution with the escalation of upcoming building projects. Hence, this study aimed to conduct a desk study by reviewing existing literature to disclose the activities, which the developed countries followed to integrate LCA into construction practice pertaining to aforesaid five stakeholder’s contributions. Literature findings highlighted that, academia have to undertake and disseminate fact-based and comprehensive research on the field of LCA in order to popularize the concept of LCA while government bodies, construction industry, civil society and natural environment have to take actions to embed LCA to the environmental regulations and environmental planning as a core element to take voluntary actions to build ecologically sustainable constructions by using LCA as a decision making technique. Environmental modeling software packages have to be introduced as a collaborative activity of academia, construction industry and natural environment to make it possible to integrate LCA to the construction industry.
item: Conference-Full-text
Exploring green features that make building materials green
(Faculty of Architecture Research Unit (FARU), 2021-12-03) Rathnayake, P; Soorige, D; Amarasinghe, SDIA; Dissanayake, P
The construction industry plays a significant role in the economic growth of a country. Nevertheless, the construction industry has created severe adverse environmental impacts. Therefore, green building technologies are implemented to alleviate the adverse effects of the construction industry. Using green materials instead of conventional building materials with high environmental impacts has been identified as one such implementation. However, there seems to be much confusion in defining green building materials. Hence, it is vital to explore the features of green building materials. Therefore, this article investigates green features that qualify the building materials as green building materials. A qualitative research approach was selected as the research methodology, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven green building experts. The data was analysed using content analysis. Findings revealed that recycled content, local availability of materials, embodied energy of materials, use of rapidly renewable material, usage of waste material for the production process, material wastage content in the production process and pollution prevention in the production process are the green features. The study results guide the identification of green building materials that can replace the materials with poor environmental sustainability.