A Comparative analysis of operational energy by simulation study between modern buildings and adaptive reuse of historic buildings in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The adaptive reuse of buildings is emerging as a sustainable solution within the built environment, addressing global challenges like climate change and greenhouse gas emissions faced by the world's population. Opting to repurpose energy-efficient historic buildings during the operational phase instead of demolishing and constructing new structures is recognized as a protective mechanism for urban cultural heritage. The escalating operational energy consumption in the building sector poses direct and indirect environmental, economic, and social concerns for occupants. This study aimed to compare the operational energy efficiency of adaptive reuse historic buildings and modern structures, seeking to identify the most energy-efficient building type. Energy consumption patterns, especially for air conditioning and lighting in residential houses, were gathered and simulated using DesignBuilder software, considering building materials as variables in both the old and new phases of the buildings. Ten Dutch-era residential dwellings were selected, and a specific schedule was analysed for energy simulations. The average Energy Use Intensity (EUI) value for old buildings in the scheduled case was lower than the newly modelled buildings. The research concludes that old historic buildings are comparatively more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly than new buildings for operational use based on the building envelope in the selected study area.