This paper presents a hypothetical and comparative performance of a 5 ton air conditioner (AC) operating in two zones in different urban microclimates for 25 days. One site represents a type of homogeneous planned urbanism and the other is a traditional heterogeneous zone. Air temperature data was collected and then processed using a linear regression model included in the operating manual of the AC in order to obtain their energy consumption. Results indicate that for an area with 500 homes, a traditional urban complex requires 12,350 kWh of electrical energy more than a planned zone (1.89%). This extra energy amounts up to $1180 and adds 9191 kg of CO2 to the atmosphere. The increased energy consumption has implications that increase the cost and environmental aspects of two urban microclimates, so that urbanization without planning is less friendly to the environment. In this sense, this study highlights the effects of urban microclimates on domestic electricity consumption from air conditioning. In addition, for a city with an arid desert climate, the variation in electricity consumption is associated with changes in the urban mosaic. The results found represent scientific evidence that can be used as a reference to establish public policies that could be incorporated into the local construction regulations, oriented to reduce the energy consumption associated with the use of air conditioning equipment.
Comparative Analysis of Two Urban Microclimates: Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
N. Santillán-Soto,O. García-Cueto,Alejandro A. Lambert-Arista,S. Ojeda-Benítez,S. Cruz-Sotelo
Published 2019 in Sustainability
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
2019
- Venue
Sustainability
- Publication date
2019-04-01
- Fields of study
Engineering, Environmental Science
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar
CITATION MAP
EXTRACTION MAP
CLAIMS
CONCEPTS
- 5 ton air conditioner
The cooling unit used as the basis for estimating electricity use in both urban zones.
Aliases: AC
- arid desert climate
The dry regional climate context in which the urban microclimate comparison is set.
- energy consumption
Estimated electrical energy use of the air conditioner over the 25-day comparison period.
Aliases: electricity consumption
- greenhouse gas emissions
Atmospheric CO2 emissions attributed to the extra electricity used by the air conditioner.
Aliases: CO2, carbon emissions
- linear regression model
The equation from the air conditioner operating manual used to convert temperature data into estimated energy use.
- planned urban zone
The homogeneous, planned urban area used as one of the two comparison sites.
Aliases: planned zone, homogeneous planned urbanism
- traditional urban complex
The heterogeneous urban area used as the contrasting comparison site.
Aliases: traditional heterogeneous zone
- urban microclimates
Localized urban thermal conditions created by the different city layouts compared in the paper.
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