Green library and Energy Utilization Index (EUI) for Services within the Library Building Kasetsart University during the Fiscal Year 2017 – 2021

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to analyze the efficiency of electricity use in Kasetsart University’s library; and 2) to provide recommendations and guidelines to the library’s administrators to support decision-making, planning and power management in the library building. For the purposes of this research, Energy Utilization Index (EUI) established by the Ministry of Energy was used in order to measure the efficiency of electricity use in the premises.  EUI guidelines state that the efficiency factor needs to be equal or greater than zero. This research found that the calculation of electricity efficiency using the number and frequency of patrons’ visits appeared to be a sensible approach in order to define the users’ visitation habits and routines. The outcome of the research pointed to the fact that, during 2017 – 2020, the EUI value was greater than zero, while the fiscal year of 2021 showed a value which was less than zero. This indicates that the electricity use was higher than the standard during 2021 despite the fact that the library witnessed its lowest number of patrons due to access restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and also due to the temporary closure of the library as per university’s policies pertaining to the containment of the virus. It is therefore important that the library administrators review the existing guidelines and consider the efficiency of the equipments in use to ensure overall efficiencies that are aligned with EUI guidelines.  Furthermore, the library should develop a plan to deal with the state of “the new normal” and to ensure that the Ministry of Energy’s recommendations are closely followed, which are useful to prepare for a smoother transition and to achieve a “Green library” standard.