Management Review of Energy Consumption: The Energy Saving Opportunity in University Buildings

Abstract

The building is identified as one of the largest electricity user. The reduction of energy consumption in the building sector has the considerable opportunity and the significant impact on the growth of energy demand, consequently, it would reduce the production of the carbon emissions globally. This paper analyzes the real-time monitoring result of power and energy consumption for 3 building sample in Andalas University, Indonesia, in order to find energy saving opportunities. In this study a real-time energy monitoring system has been developed, hence their results were recorded in every five minutes for each building. The data recorded was analyzed and plotted to obtain the energy patterns consumed daily during 3 months and the pattern of load power weekly. The opportunity of the energy savings can be analyzed by reviewing the relationship between the pattern of load power weekly and energy consumed patterns daily. In meantime, the activities in the building/rooms related to consume electrical energy based on the working time, lecturing schedules, academic calendar and field observations toward energy user and load behaviors. The analysis results have obtained opportunities for energy savings the outside of working hours in the building of engineering faculty, lecturing, and central library, respectively: 21.06%, 20.17%, and 9.85%. Meanwhile, during working hours, the opportunities for energy savings are still qualitative results. A short-term solution in implementing energy saving opportunities could be done through the management policy.