Generation Nachhaltigkeit

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | Generation Nachhaltigkeit | Konferenz 2010 | Programm | Abstracts | An Approach to Energy Efficient Residential Buildings in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

An Approach to Energy Efficient Residential Buildings in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Samstag, 19.06.
13.00 - 15.00
Sektion: Lokal/ Regional
Block: Nachhaltiges Design und Energieeffizienz

Shritu Shrestha, Fachhochschule Köln

Abstract

The energy use in the buildings is upto 40% in most of the countries. In the residential buildings on the developing countries, the energy use reaches over 90%. In my research region, the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, electricity is the main source of energy use in the buildings’ operational phase such as heating, cooling and lighting. Among the total electricity consumers in Nepal, 95.66% are from the residential sectors. As the Kathmandu Valley is the densest and urbanised region in Nepal, the energy use through the residential buildings in the valley is intense. To illustrate this, the yearly demographic growth in the valley showed the increase in the number of buildings which simultaneously rose in the energy use. Besides that, the energy consumption is increased due to the poor thermal construction of the residential buildings that does not refer climate and does not fulfil the comfort limit of the occupants in the residence. This is also due to the fact that the enforcement of energy efficiency in the buildings on the national policy level does not exist in Nepal. Besides the overuse of the energy in the valley, the current energy supply system is also critical with intermitted power cut off for few hours almost everyday. These problems point out towards the requirement of energy efficiency in the residential buildings in the valley.

This thesis focuses on the passive control systems in the selected building elements and on site planning aspect to design energy efficient residential buildings in the Kathmandu Valley. It starts with determining the thermal comfort of the occupants in the valley. And with the study of climate, design criteria are developed satisfying both heating and cooling needs in the valley. To satisfy the design criteria, the design options to achieve energy efficiency in the residential buildings are recommended and based on it, design guidelines are prepared. These will not only help to reduce the energy consumption in the residential buildings in the valley but also to satisfy thermal comfort for the occupants. Moreover, they help to improve energy supply situation in the valley.