Boffins have devised a way to reduce air-conditioning needs, and the government is considering making its use mandatory

A new simulation programme allows architects and constructors to erect buildings that can save the country millions of units of electricity a year.

Use of the programme may be required by the Energy Act as soon as early next year. The Energy Ministry is keen on this.

A research team led by Prof Suraphong Chirarattananon of the Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment developed the programme.

It simulates power consumption of building designs and suggests improvements or material use that will boost energy efficiency.

Computed calculations

"Just input your location and other required information, and it will show how much energy will be consumed," Suraphong says.

"It's the first ever such programme developed in Thailand. It's devised for our tropical weather specifically. It can be adapted to Southeast Asian countries," he explains.

Suraphong says the unnamed programme will be integrated into the Energy Act.

This will make a "significant change" in energy consumption in new, big buildings, including condominiums, commercial towers, hotels and hospitals.

"By simply adjusting building design for energy efficiency we will be able to save more than 5 million units of electricity per year," Suraphong says.

Architects, builders and assessors will be trained to use the programme.

Making it better

While the programme has been proved to work well, its designers are fine-tuning it so its display is more user-friendly. The ministry is paying for this, and it should be finished by the end of the year.

The graduate school's latest survey found buildings consumed the third greatest amount of energy, after transport and industry.

Most building energy consumption is by air-conditioners, 60 per cent in commercial buildings and 70 per cent in residential.

XTRA

ENERGY SOURCE

>> Natural gas: 67%

>> Coal: 21%

>> Hydroelectrics: 5%

>> Oil: 2%

>> Daily electricity

generation: 28,230mW

(April 18).

>> Efficient energy costs half to a quarter the price of that from conventional sources such as coal and oil.