Energy Consumption, Energy Analysis, and Solar Energy Integration for Commercial Building Restaurants

Abstract

In the domain of energy consumption in restaurant-type commercial buildings, traditional energy audits tend to concentrate mainly on electrical loads, often neglecting the specifics of the restaurant sector, especially regarding liquified petroleum gas fuel consumption. This research employs a comprehensive energy audit framework specifically designed for the commercial building restaurant sector. Using energy data from 130 restaurants, we computed the building energy index that ranged in between 650 and 1000 kWh/m2/year. Using linear regression, we assessed the relationship between building energy index and restaurant area, uncovering a low R2 value, suggesting the unsuitability of the building energy index as an exclusive measure for restaurants. Concurrently, our detailed comparative study showed that liquified petroleum gas-fueled equipment uses about 38% more energy than electric fueled equipment but is 0.5% cheaper and significantly less polluting. Investigating renewable energy potentials, we found solar PV application as a viable option for restaurants. The results showed that solar PV installation could produce approximately 11,064,898 kWh, translating to utility savings of RM 7,381,929 and reductions of 7,108,327 kgCO2, 68,959 kgSO2, and 31,823 kgCO emissions. Conclusively, our findings underline the need for a diversified energy assessment in restaurants and the tangible benefits of renewable energy integration.