On electrical energy efficiency in buildings

Abstract

The paper deals with electrical energy efficiency in buildings. In the introductory section, the main aspects of auditing electrical energy systems in buildings are addressed. In the second section, the main sources of power losses in induction motors along with some features of modern efficient inductor motors are briefly presented. The third one is devoted to the main topologies of variable speed electrical drives in building equipment (i.e. square wave and phase width modulation inverters). The final section deals with power quality issues determined by the variable speed drives in buildings (especially in air handling units, pumping, and lighting). Concluding it can be noticed that even if variable-speed electric drives contribute to improving energy efficiency, the power quality issues lower energy efficiency, and consequently these problems must be canceled or at least mitigated.