Simulation of Energy Consumption for Different Types of Walls and Colour for A Residential Building, Case Study: Phnom Penh City, Cambodia

Abstract

The residential building sector in Cambodia is growing rapidly, with the number of flats increasing by more than 34% from 2020 to 2021. This growth is putting a strain on the country's energy resources, as air conditioning (HVAC) systems account for a significant portion of energy consumption in buildings. This study used EnergyPlusTM with OpenStudio SketchUp Plug-In to simulate the annual energy consumption of a flat in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The calculated annual energy consumption agrees well with actual electricity consumption accumulated from monthly electricity bills, with error of 1.78%. The results showed that the selection of colour paint and additional insulation on the existing wall can reduce annual energy consumption by 3.20% and 19.68%, respectively. These findings suggest that energy efficiency measures can play a significant role in reducing energy consumption in the residential building sector of Cambodia. However, it is important to note that the results may vary depending on the specific building design, occupancy behaviours and climate conditions.

Keywords

• Energy Simulation
• EnergyPlus
• Energy Consumption
• OpenStudio
• Residential Building