Identification of factors influencing indoor electricity Consumption in Surabaya and energy saving strategies in tropical climate

Abstract

Growing urban centers and rising living standards in tropical regions like Surabaya are driving significant increases in building energy consumption. This trend poses considerable challenges to energy infrastructure sustainability and contributes to environmental concerns, particularly given the inherent climatic demands for cooling and dehumidification. Addressing this effectively necessitates a clear understanding of the primary drivers influencing energy use patterns. Therefore, this study comprehensively identifies the diverse factors impacting indoor electrical energy consumption within this context. Furthermore, it aims to formulate practical and effective energy conservation strategies specifically tailored to mitigate consumption while leveraging the unique characteristics and constraints presented by the tropical climate. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research integrated foundational knowledge from a thorough literature review with primary data collected via questionnaires distributed to 70 residents in Surabaya, capturing specific local conditions, behaviors, and perceptions related to energy use. The findings reveal that electricity consumption is shaped by a complex interplay across six main categories: occupant characteristics and behaviors, prevailing socioeconomic conditions, inherent building design and material features, the effectiveness of natural ventilation and lighting systems, the types and efficiency of electronic devices used, and the reliance on active air conditioning systems. Based on these insights, relevant and context-specific energy conservation strategies were identified. Key approaches include optimizing building design for effective cross-ventilation, maximizing the utilization of abundant natural daylight, systematically implementing passive tropical architectural design principles, and encouraging the adoption of certified energy-efficient appliances. Ultimately, this study strongly recommends a holistic approach, integrating both technical solutions and non-technical measures like promoting behavioral changes, to achieve meaningful and sustainable energy efficiency improvements in buildings within tropical regions.