Abstract:
Energy is the burning issue lor lhe t\\'enty-Jirst century Bangladesh. Due to frenzied
urbanization and limited resources to g.encrate power, the economic Qctivities are being
greatly hampered by po\\'er cuts; meanwhile the pQwer sectQr is suffering from lack Qf
capital, inadequale gas supply and high rate of system loss, Dhaka consumes almost
55% ol'lotal gcneratcd clectrieity according to the Dhaka Power Dislribution Company
Limited (DPllC), The dQmestic seclor is the main C(lll'Umer of mmmercial energy in
Dhaka city. The latesl records show that the domestic category alone eonsumcs more
than 40% of the total sale of OPOe. Therefore. energy efficiency improvements in
residential buildings have large potential for energy cClIlservatian. Praper p()li~y
measureS could enable the residential building scctor to function more efficiently which
would ultimately ensure sustainable urban enviwnment.
The present thesis examined the electricity end-use pattern in residential apartment
buildings of Dhaka City in the context of growing den,it y and ~a,ll y reduced scope lor
natural lighting and ventilation, Thc study intended to evaluate the energ.y perform~nce
of buildings of this particulAr type AgAinstthe urban textural quality that ~flects urban
micro-climate. The ~,sumpti()n wa., that the energy eJ11eieney or residential buildings is
affected hy provision 01' natural lighting, ventilation and thermal environment. The
study findings revealed that different types of re"idelltial developmenL' vary in urhan
lextural qu~lity and lhere i, ,ubstantial variation in 'energy eJ11ciency' of buildings in
these locations.
The survey findings showed clear indications for the physical and environmental
characteristics of immediate surroundings "I' a residential building: h~ving substantial
impacl on bui Iding 'energy el"liciency'. Increa,ed a\\,ari~ne~sand incenlives to COnServe
energy by adapting efficient design measures and energy efficient technology can be
vital to improved energy elTiciency in buildings as higher aJTordability and ignorance
call leAdto misuse of energy, As the most appropriate solution at hand, the flourishing
sector of multi-storied residential apartment buildings demand more in depth research
regarding appropriate scale, form, building material, utility and mechanical systems etc,
in order to make lhe whole system more eflicient to reduce its adverse impact on the
environment. This can be achieved through holistic plAlllling approach and adoption of
result oriented design measures by the city planner'" and implementation or control and
enabling policy measures from the pal icy makero' part.
