Significant carbon lock-in and footprint in buildings show the necessity to deeply and swiftly decarbonize the sector. To help achieve decarbonization, Delta keeps exploring innovative measures to optimize energy performance in buildings. In our Green BIM Microclimate project, we introduce the concept of using climate and weather data to guide architects to design energy-efficient buildings, as well as to manage the operation of energy-consuming equipment such as air-conditioners. 

2017
Delta together with the Central Weather Bureau (CWB), Taiwan Architecture & Building Center (TABC), and International Climate Development Institute (ICDI), developed the "Green BIM Microclimate Data Platform", to provide the third Typical meteorological year (TMY3) information collected from weather stations. It converted the historical weather information of the densely populated areas in Taiwan for nearly 20 years in the past (1998-2016) into the weather parameters and data formats compatible with Building Information Modeling (BIM), further allowing architects to build more energy-efficient buildings. In the first phase of the project, we accomplished the data format establishment of TMY3 information from the 13 stations that cover the major metropolitan areas in Taiwan, and parameters included sunlight, wind speed, temperature, humidity, precipitation, etc.

2020
In the second phase of the project, the data platform was updated to double its data coverage from the original 13 meteorological stations to 26 ones. The expansion makes meteorological data in each county and city of Taiwan available online and helps architects create energy-efficient building designs with higher accuracy. In addition, we collaborated with the National Museum of Marine Science & Technology (NMMST) to manage water-cooled chillers systems with weather forecast data. The daily temperature and humidity are the main determinants of when different types of water-cooled chillers should be activated and closed. Overall, the data application makes electricity consumption be decrease by 10% during peak hours of summer days and potentially 30% in spring and autumn.

2021-2022
Delta broadened the data application in public and commercial buildings of different counties and cities. In cooperation with New Taipei City, we achieved almost a 10% reduction in energy consumption in government offices with weather forecast information. In this case, with well-equipped sensors in the building, we used the thermal comfort model and the weather forecast of the day to optimize the air-conditioning temperature. Coupled with science-based models, such as CBE thermal comfort tool and PMV value, we also ensure the maintenance of indoor comfort via temperature adjustment. The case proved the possibility to achieve energy savings at a very low cost through air-conditioning temperature control and weather forecast data without replacing any energy-consuming equipment or upgrading the building envelope. This case study had been documented academically and published in Building and Environment, a reputable international journal in 2022.

Livestream link to the press conference on 2017.3.7

Livestream link to the presentation of the results online on 2020.5.8