International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

Application of different retrofitting technologies can play a significant role in reducing energy consumption of existing buildings. This research work analyses a building in Cork (Ireland) where underfloor heating system, and natural ventilation are used to maintain comfort conditions. Underfloor heating system is the main electricity consumer of this building. Different energy efficient technologies were implemented and analyzed in terms of reducing electricity consumption through an energy software. These technologies include replacing illumination with high efficiency light; replacement of electric motos with high efficiency; introducing underfloor heating time scheduling turning on and off based on predicted weather condition; installation of presence sensors to switch ON/OFF lighting. Finally, it was decided to implement underfloor heating time scheduling as energy efficient technology to be analyzed because of limited budget available and high return on investments provided by applying this method. Result analysis shows that electricity saving on bills was about 20% on monthly basis compared to previous consumption.

This research will analyse the utilization of photovoltaic plant in a fruit storage facility to produce electricity for running the refrigerators to keep cool the fruit preservation in the Storage Facility. The building has two sets of refrigerators with a power of 18.2 kW each. Firstly, the work analysis deals with the convenience of installing a Photovoltaic Plant to produce electricity for supplying the refrigerators. Secondly, implementing energy efficiency measures such as adding a new layer of insulation to the walls has been analysed. Result analysis shows that the return of investment by the installation of Photovoltaic plant is less convenient compared to that of a thermal insulation layer on the interior sites. In conclusion, it has been decided to implement only thermal insulation as energy efficiency measures to this facility where the saving is about 15% of electricity consumption per year. Given that the saving in one year is 3069kWh and the cost of electricity is 0.09 EUR/kWh, the savings in monetary value is 276 EUR /year.