Impact of building design on energy usage of Auckland Public Library

Abstract

This pilot study is to investigate relationships between Auckland library building design and energy consumption. In Auckland, about sixty public libraries belong to the Auckland Council. A number of Auckland public libraries (32% of the total number of public libraries in Auckland) are used for this study. A whole year monthly energy consumption data and library building plans of the sample libraries are recorded and supplied by the Auckland Council. This study explores impact of building design factors on energy consumption, which is based on real energy consumption data and building design data of Auckland public libraries. This study converted monthly energy consumption data into annual, winter and summer daily mean energy consumptions per unit volume of library building indoor space (kWh/m3/day), which is closely related to building design, indoor thermal conditions and building thermal performance under the local climatic conditions. According to relationships between daily mean energy consumptions per unit volume of library building indoor space (kWh/m3/day) and library building design data, the study presents energy profiles of local libraries and identify major design factors impacting energy consumption of Auckland public libraries.