Building Energy Retrofit Measures in Hot-Summer–Cold-Winter Climates
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energies Review Building Energy Retrofit Measures in Hot-Summer–Cold-Winter Climates: A Case Study in Shanghai Yuanda Hong 1,2,4, Collins I. Ezeh 3,4, Wu Deng 1,* , Sung-Hugh Hong 1 and Zhen Peng 1 1 Department of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, University Park, Ningbo 315100, China 2 Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA 3 Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo, University Park, Ningbo 315100, China 4 Shanghai Daren Construction Engineering Co. Ltd., Floor 1, Building 60, No. 1818, Lianhang Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 201112, China * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +86-574-8818-0000 (ext. 8543) Received: 16 May 2019; Accepted: 29 August 2019; Published: 3 September 2019 Abstract: Building retrofit measures provide a significant means of mitigating the effect of climate change on buildings by enhancing building energy performance at a beneficial cost-effectiveness. An insight into the applicable building retrofit measures within a climate zone will guide the optimisation framework to attaining sustainability in architecture and the built environment. This article presents a brief overview of recent studies on retrofit measures and its application on a variety of buildings in hot-summer–cold-winter climates, with emphasis on Shanghai. Findings show that the major retrofit measures include improvement in the building envelope, heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) and lighting, supported by photovoltaic (PV) systems, accordingly. Furthermore, the study identifies key elements and plausible challenges for the evaluation of building retrofit measures in this region. In this regard, financial barriers and lack of standards and regulatory support are the main challenges identified. These insights provide a systematic approach to guide building researchers, practitioners and decision-makers in the design and development of existing and new retrofit measures for the future of rapidly growing cities with a broad climate variation scope. Keywords: building retrofit measures; building energy consumption; climate change; hot-summer– cold-winter; Shanghai 1. Introduction Generally, buildings account for 20–40% of energy consumption in most countries [1,2], and consume a significant share of global electricity [3]. The rise in energy consumption necessitates the development of smart buildings with optimal economic benefits to circumvent this trend. Accordingly, buildings are retrofitted with recent energy conservative measures (ECMs), which include technological advances such as usage of thermal energy storage (TES) [4], building fabrics upgrade [2] and installation of policies to overcome key retrofit barriers [5]. Moreover, the adoption of these measures is speculated to be driven by regional climate variation and population density, particularly in China [6]. Besides this, existing buildings are historical and are energy inefficient. In order to promote energy-efficient buildings, the Chinese government has established comprehensive policies within the 11th (2006–2010) and 12th (2011–2015) Five Year Plans. These plans have necessitated the upgrade of parts of existing buildings or whole (“deep”) building retrofits Energies 2019, 12, 3393; doi:10.3390/en12173393 www.mdpi.com/journal/energies Energies 2019, 12, 3393 2 of 32 Energies 2019, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 32 in order to improve the energy-saving potential across all building types within the country [7–9]. Innorthern China, China, the the upgrades upgrades in in building building fabrics fabrics and and heating heating systems systems has has led led to toan anestimated estimated 18.5% 18.5% of energyof energy savings savings of residentialof residential buildings buildings [8]. The[8]. The reduction reduction in internal in internal loads, loads, improvements improvements in heating, in ventilationheating, ventilation and cooling and (HVAC) cooling and (HVAC) water and heating water systems heating resultedsystems resulted in an estimated in an estimated 77.3% of 77.3% energy savingsof energy in Tianjin savings [9 ].in DeepTianjin building [9]. Deep retrofits building entail retrofits the use entail of a the whole-building use of a whole-building approach to approach reduce the totalto reduce building the energy total building usage by energy more usage than 50%by more [7]. than 50% [7]. EvenEven with with the the stipulated stipulated retrofit retrofit technologies,technologies, building energy energy consumption consumption still still contributes contributes to to aboutabout one-fourth one-fourth of theof the total total energy energy consumed consumed and an steadilyd steadily increases increases annually, annually, particularly particularly for highlyfor urbanisinghighly urbanising cities like cities Shanghai like Shangh [10–ai12 [10–12].]. The reasonThe reason being being that that the the high high urbanisation urbanisation of of thethe city is associatedis associated with with the the introduction introduction of of varying varying microclimates microclimates influencedinfluenced by by topographic topographic features features such such asas lakes lakes and and tall tall buildings. buildings. Subsequently, Subsequently, thethe city is rebuilt to to accommodate accommodate increasing increasing population population density.density. As As such, such, the the density density andand heightheight ofof buildings,buildings, green, green, water water and and floor floor area area ratio, ratio, pavement pavement area,area, etc. etc. are are a ffaffected,ected, which which aaffectsffects solarsolar reflectivity,reflectivity, urban urban heat heat capacity, capacity, the the sky sky view view factor factor and and landland surface surface roughness roughness [13 [13].]. For For example, example, streetsstreets and buildings buildings will will trap trap solar solar radiation, radiation, resulting resulting in in anan increase increase in in the the average average city city temperature temperature andand building energy energy consumption consumption beyond beyond that that of ofmore more open cities. To this effect, the 13th Five Year Plan in China (2016–2020) was formed to promote more open cities. To this effect, the 13th Five Year Plan in China (2016–2020) was formed to promote more sustainable buildings [14]. Shanghai is the largest industrial and populous city in the hot summer sustainable buildings [14]. Shanghai is the largest industrial and populous city in the hot summer and and cold winter (HSCW) climate zone in China [15]. Hence, a suitable framework is required to cold winter (HSCW) climate zone in China [15]. Hence, a suitable framework is required to retrofit retrofit buildings amidst high population density to attain sustainability. buildings amidst high population density to attain sustainability. This article reviews the current literature on building retrofit measures adopted in highly dense citiesThis with article an reviewsemphasis the on current Shanghai. literature The articl on buildinge documents retrofit appropriate measures retrofit adopted measures, in highly their dense citiescontribution, with an emphasiskey concerns, on Shanghai.evaluation methods The article and documents common challenges appropriate faced retrofit in this measures,city. Figure their 1 contribution,illustrates a graphical key concerns, description evaluation of the methodsaim of this and study. common This article challenges also provides faced ina good this foundation city. Figure 1 illustratesfor readers a graphical who aim description at proposing of the policies aim of on this urban study. planning, This article energy also consumption provides a good and foundation climate forchange. readers who aim at proposing policies on urban planning, energy consumption and climate change. FigureFigure 1. 1.Graphical Graphical summary of of the the aim aim of of this this study. study. Motivation for Review Motivation for Review ThisThis paper paper aims aims to documentto document recent recent research research studies studies and and their their findings findings on adopted on adopted building building retrofit measuresretrofit measures in a highly in urbanisinga highly urbanising city with city HSCW with climate. HSCW climate. Shanghai Shanghai was considered was considered as a case as scenarioa case whilescenario discussing while discussing suitable programs suitable andprograms notable and concerns notable inconcerns implementing in implementing these measures. these measures. Like other highlyLike expandingother highly cities expanding such ascities Beijing such andas Beijin Guangzhoug and Guangzhou (China), Sao(China), Paulo Sao (Brazil), Paulo (Brazil), Port Harcourt Port (Nigeria),Harcourt the (Nigeria), expansion the of expansion Shanghai of has Shanghai been associated has been with associated varying with microclimates varying microclimates influenced by topographicinfluenced featuresby topographic like lakes features and buildings. like lakes Henceand buildings. the information Hence the on information building retrofit on building packages withretrofit a focus packages on the with impact a focus of population on the impact and climate of population variation and was climate deemed variation necessary. was deemed Generally, thenecessary. diverse scope Generally, of information the diverse is presentedscope of inform in literatureation is and presented may pose in challengesliterature and for