MODELING ENERGY USE IN THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR IN SAUDI ARABIA- RETAIL STORE AS A STUDY CASE

摘要

This paper addresses the energy consumption in a supermarket in AlQaseem area. Supermarkets are very intensive energy users. Any improvement in the energy using pattern means less energy consumption and lower running cost for the store. AlQaseem is a very hot and dry region that requires extensive cooling from April to October. This explains why a supermarket, and in this region in particular, was chosen to be simulated. Two models were simulated, a base case model and a low energy model. The base case model was constructed and run in accordance with the locally accepted designing and building practices. The result is a lot of energy wastage. The low energy model was created by applying several improvements and energy saving strategies to the base case model of the supermarket. These improvements include the use of well insulated floors-roofs-walls, the use of double low emissive glazing for windows and skylights, the use of shades with the optimum number of widows on each facade to promote daylighting and at the same time control solar heat gain, and the promotion of passive solar heating. HVAC controls were also used as means of reducing energy consumption especially at periods such as from 1PM to 5PM where the flow of shoppers is at its minimum. The applied improvements and energy saving strategies has resulted in an overall reduction in energy consumption by 32.46%. Most of the reduction came as a result of the downsizing of the HVAC unit.