Energy usage in buildings for future climate: a case study of Concordia University Buildings in Montreal
Kartikay Sharma*, Ali Nazemi, Ursula Eicker
Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
DOI: 10.62744/CATE.45273.1124-433-441
Email: kartikay.sharma@mail.concordia.ca
Abstract:
In light of escalating extreme events and climate change, this research focuses on understanding energy consumption in buildings, specifically under varied weather scenarios including past (2019-2022) and future projections (2061, 2099). Traditional building simulations stemming from representative, using typical year’s weather data doesn't capture the intricacies of long-term climate shifts especially for the future. To address this, this study incorporates detailed future climate data from combination of RCMs & GCMs. This data is used in combination with open-geospatial data to create a building geometry. Initial results highlight a shift to warmer temperatures in 2061 and 2099. When contrasted with a typical mean weather scenario (1960-1986), there's a noticeable increase in cooling energy and a decrease in heating energy consumption from 2019-2022. By 2099, overall energy use is predicted to decrease by 10%-30%, which when broken down constitutes to reduction in heating energy and increase in cooling energy. The research underscores the impending shift towards increased cooling demands and reduced heating needs. The findings emphasize the urgency for future building designs to be energy-efficient and resilient in the face of evolving climate conditions.
Keywords: Future energy use, extreme climate, extreme weather, future weather