Prioritizing Parameters of EDGE Certification for Public Office Building Renovation in Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

The building industry accounts for one-third of global energy consumption and CO2eq emissions, yet research on green certification for public-building renovations remains limited in Southeast Asia. This study prioritizes parameters for achieving Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certification in public buildings in Bangkok, Thailand, focusing on energy, water, and embodied carbon. Parameters were ranked by reduction potential, and a Bangkok case study was evaluated using available renovated parameter values. The study results present characteristics of public office buildings, local construction practices, available renovation data, and Bangkok’s climate conditions. Eight of 34 energy parameters, including natural ventilation, on-site renewable energy, and cooling system efficiency, contribute over 80% of potential energy reduction. Four of 15 water parameters, wastewater treatment and recycling, water-efficient landscape irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and water-closet flush efficiency, are critical, while autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) for interior walls contributes most to embodied carbon reduction. The existing plan achieves reductions of 4.91% in energy, 7.04% in water, and 19.28% in embodied carbon, insufficient for certification. Optimizing four energy parameters raises energy reduction to 22.73%, adding wastewater treatment and recycling or upgrading landscape irrigation can raise water reduction above 20%, and increasing AAC use for interior walls to at least 53% achieves 20.2% embodied carbon reduction. Parameter prioritization may be used for renovation planning to meet EDGE reduction thresholds.