Singapore study shows energy-saving benefits of chilled ceilings
Air-conditioning energy consumption can be reduced by 26% using an Ecophit chilled-ceiling system instead of conventional air conditioning, according to a recently conducted feasibility study. The study also notes that even higher total energy savings of 36% could be achieved when back-end systems are optimised.
The research was carried out by the Energy Research Institute of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. The authors collaborated with the Germany-based SGL Group to install and operate Ecophit chilled-ceiling technology at ERI@N’s CleanTech One office space in Singapore.
The Energy Research Institute combined energy-modelling simulations with monitoring and analysis of the real parameters of the installations and verification, through sub-metering, to show how a chilled-ceiling system (a form of radiant cooling) achieves significant energy savings compared to a conventional air-based system.
According to See Chenn Wang, director Asia at SGL Singapore, the air-conditioning systems in most buildings in Singapore account for 50% of a building’s electricity consumption. He says, ‘One of the biggest challenges in achieving energy efficiency in buildings is to create a high indoor comfort level while reducing the energy consumed by air conditioning. Hence there is a lot of interest to test innovative and more energy-efficient air-conditioning systems that could replace current technology in Singapore and other tropical regions.’
