With increased focus on sustainable built environments due to energy conservation, climate change and fossil fuel depletion, it is essential to improve building services, particularly heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, because of their significant energy consumption. In Sri Lanka, central air conditioning systems in commercial buildings mainly target energy efficiency initiatives on the waterside, with significantly less attention given to the airside. Hence, this study aims to identify the enablers for implementing energy efficiency strategies for HVAC airside systems in commercial buildings in Sri Lanka.
To achieve this, a qualitative research approach was used, using an interview survey targeting 17 experts who are experienced in building services and are currently working in the industry. Then the collected data was analysed using the content analysis method using NVivo software.
The study identified 33 enablers categorised under technological, organisational, economic, regulatory and informational domains. Key findings highlight the importance of enablers in facilitating the implementation of HVAC airside strategies, concluding that full potential of HVAC system savings can only be realised by adopting both waterside and airside strategies.
The holistic approach of using waterside and airside strategies, already prevalent in developed countries, remains underused in Sri Lankan commercial buildings. Given Sri Lanka’s tropical climate and context-specific regulatory and economic conditions, identifying enablers for airside efficiency offers both industry relevance and academic value.
