CoNNECT: Data Analytics for Energy Efficient Communities

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. A. Omitaomu ◽  
B. L. Bhaduri ◽  
C. S. Maness ◽  
J. B. Kodysh ◽  
A. M. Noranzyk
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Data Analytics ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Energy Usage ◽  
The Public ◽  
Utility Companies

Energy efficiency is the lowest cost option being promoted for achieving a sustainable energy policy. Thus, there have been some innovations to reduce residential and commercial energy usage. There have also been calls to the utility companies to give customers access to timely, useful, and actionable information about their energy use, in order to unleash additional innovations in homes and businesses. Hence, some web-based tools have been developed for the public to access and compare energy usage data. In order to advance on these efforts, we propose a data analytics framework called Citizen Engagement for Energy Efficient Communities (CoNNECT). On the one hand, CoNNECT will help households to understand (i) the patterns in their energy consumption over time and how those patterns correlate with weather data, (ii) how their monthly consumption compares to other households living in houses of similar size and age within the same geographic areas, and (iii) what other customers are doing to reduce their energy consumption. We hope that the availability of such data and analysis to the public will facilitate energy efficiency efforts in residential buildings. These capabilities formed the public portal of the CoNNECT framework. On the other hand, CoNNECT will help the utility companies to better understand their customers by making available to the utilities additional datasets that they naturally do not have access to, which could help them develop focused services for their customers. These additional capabilities are parts of the utility portal of the CoNNECT framework. In this paper, we describe the CoNNECT framework, the sources of the data used in its development, the functionalities of both the public and utility portals, and the application of empirical mode decomposition for decomposing usage signals into mode functions with the hope that such mode functions could help in clustering customers into unique groups and in developing guidelines for energy conservation.

scholarly journals ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, LESS STRAIGHT FORWARD THEN PRESUMED

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Hens
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Low Voltage ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Energy Conserving ◽  
New Construction

Since the 1990s, the successive EU directives and related national or regional legislations require new construction and retrofits to be as much as possible energy-efficient. Several measures that should stepwise minimize the primary energy use for heating and cooling have become mandated as requirement. However, in reality, related predicted savings are not seen in practice. Two effects are responsible for that. The first one refers to dweller habits, which are more energy-conserving than the calculation tools presume. In fact, while in non-energy-efficient ones, habits on average result in up to a 50% lower end energy use for heating than predicted. That percentage drops to zero or it even turns negative in extremely energy-efficient residences. The second effect refers to problems with low-voltage distribution grids not designed to transport the peaks in electricity whensunny in summer. Through that, a part of converters has to be uncoupled now and then, which means less renewable electricity. This is illustrated by examples that in theory should be net-zero buildings due to the measures applied and the presence of enough photovoltaic cells (PV) on each roof. We can conclude that mandating extreme energy efficiency far beyond the present total optimum value for residential buildings looks questionable as a policy. However, despite that, governments and administrations still seem to require even more extreme measurements regarding energy efficiency.

scholarly journals Factors Driving Consumer Involvement in Energy Consumption and Energy-Efficient Purchasing Behavior: Evidence from Korean Residential Buildings

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 5573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soyoung Yoo ◽  
Jiyong Eom ◽  
Ingoo Han
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Green Technology ◽  
Consumer Involvement ◽  
Demand Side ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Technological Advances

The recent rapid transition in energy markets and technological advances in demand-side interventions has renewed attention on consumer behavior. A rich literature on potential factors affecting residential energy use or green technology adoption has highlighted the need to better understand the fundamental causes of consumer heterogeneity in buildings’ energy-related behavior. Unresolved questions such as which consumers are most likely to opt into demand-side management programs and what factors might explain the wide variation in behavioral responses to such programs make it difficult for policy-makers to develop cost-effective energy efficiency or demand response programs for residential buildings. This study extends the literature on involvement theory and energy-related behavior by proposing a holistic construct of household energy involvement (HEI) to represent consumers’ personal level of interest in energy services. Based on a survey of 5487 Korean households, it finds that HEI has a stronger association with consumer values, such as preferences for indoor thermal comfort and automation, than with socioeconomic or housing characteristics and demonstrates HEI’s potential as a reliable, integrated predictor of both energy consumption and energy-efficient purchases. The study illuminates the multifaceted influences that shape energy-related behavior in residential buildings and offers new tools to help utility regulators identify and profile viable market segments, improve the cost-effectiveness of their programs, and eventually promote urban sustainability.

SOME ASPECTS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN HOUSING CONSTRUCTION IN RUSSIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-96
Author(s):  
E.V. Nezhnikova ◽  
◽  
M.V Chernyaev ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Real Estate ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Housing Construction ◽  
Residential Real Estate ◽  
Domestic Legislation

The article presents the problems of ensuring energy efficiency of housing construction in the Russian Federation. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons and, despite the existence of federal and regional legislation, today Russia does not pay due attention to this issue, which leads to an unreasonable increase in electricity consumption both during the creation of residential real estate objects and during their operation. 96 Экономические системы. 2020. № 2 Economic Systems. 2020. No. 2 The relevance of the topic is enhanced by significant energy consumption of residential buildings in use: more than 50% of electrical energy consumption falls on these real estate objects. Therefore, it is no coincidence, but a completely logical trend of the 21st century, that the governments of most countries popularized the idea of designing and building energy-efficient residential buildings. It was established that the improvement of domestic legislation in terms of energy efficiency has greatly improved the regulatory framework for the design and construction of energy-efficient residential real estate.

scholarly journals Use of Insulation Based on Nanomaterials to Improve Energy Efficiency of Residential Buildings in a Hot Desert Climate

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5266
Author(s):  
Ahmed Abdelrady ◽  
Mohamed Hssan Hassan Abdelhafez ◽  
Ayman Ragab
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Polystyrene Foam ◽  
Improve Energy Efficiency ◽  
Building Insulation ◽  
Clear Glass ◽  
Desert Climate

Building insulation based on nanomaterials is considered one of the most effective means of reducing energy consumption in the hot desert climate. The application of an energy-efficient insulation system can significantly decrease the energy consumed via a building’s air-conditioning system during the summer. Hence, building insulation has become an interesting research topic, especially with regards to the use of insulation based on nanomaterials due to their low U-values. In the present study, the use of nano vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) or polystyrene foam in the walls enabled a significant reduction in the annual energy consumption, a savings of 23% compared to the uninsulated wall in a study in New Aswan City. The application of nanogel glazing to the windows (two layers of clear glass filled with the nanogel) achieved approximately 11% savings in annual energy. This savings, twice that obtained by using double-glazed windows, could be due to the low U-value of nanogel compared to the U-values of argon or air. The embedded nanogel layer between two layers of argon and two layers of single clear glass showed a significant reduction in annual energy consumption, saving 26% compared to the use of a single layer of glass. Moreover, the integration between this window and embedded walls with 50 mm of polystyrene foam exhibited a significant improvement of energy efficiency by 47.6% while presenting the lowest value of simple payback period (SPP). This research provides a way for buildings to be insulated to make them more energy efficient as well as attractive from the economic standpoint.

scholarly journals The Effect of Building Aspect Ratio on Energy Efficiency: A Case Study for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings in Canada

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip McKeen ◽  
Alan S. Fung
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Building Area ◽  
The Relationship

This paper examines the energy consumption of varying aspect ratio in multi-unit residential buildings in Canadian cities. The aspect ratio of a building is one of the most important determinants of energy efficiency. It defines the building surface area by which heat is transferred between the interior and exterior environment. It also defines the amount of building area that is subject to solar gain. The extent to which this can be beneficial or detrimental depends on the aspect ratio and climate. This paper evaluates the relationship between the geometry of buildings and location to identify a design vernacular for energy-efficient designs across Canada.

scholarly journals Exploring Climate-Change Impacts on Energy Efficiency and Overheating Vulnerability of Bioclimatic Residential Buildings under Central European Climate

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6791
Author(s):  
Luka Pajek ◽  
Mitja Košir
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Central European

Climate change is expected to expose the locked-in overheating risk concerning bioclimatic buildings adapted to a specific past climate state. The study aims to find energy-efficient building designs which are most resilient to overheating and increased cooling energy demands that will result from ongoing climate change. Therefore, a comprehensive parametric study of various passive building design measures was implemented, simulating the energy use of each combination for a temperate climate of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The approach to overheating vulnerability assessment was devised and applied using the increase in cooling energy demand as a performance indicator. The results showed that a B1 heating energy efficiency class according to the Slovenian Energy Performance Certificate classification was the highest attainable using the selected passive design parameters, while the energy demand for heating is projected to decrease over time. In contrast, the energy use for cooling is in general projected to increase. Furthermore, it was found that, in building models with higher heating energy use, low overheating vulnerability is easier to achieve. However, in models with high heating energy efficiency, very high overheating vulnerability is not expected. Accordingly, buildings should be designed for current heating energy efficiency and low vulnerability to future overheating. The paper shows a novel approach to bioclimatic building design with global warming adaptation integrated into the design process. It delivers recommendations for the energy-efficient, robust bioclimatic design of residential buildings in the Central European context, which are intended to guide designers and policymakers towards a resilient and sustainable built environment.

scholarly journals ANALYSIS OF ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOUSE LAYOUT DESIGN IN TROPICAL CLIMATE

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18
Author(s):  
Aisyah Zakiah
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Cooling Load ◽  
City Development ◽  
Total Energy Consumption ◽  
Wall Area ◽  
Consumption Energy ◽  
Cooling Loads

Energy-efficient residential provision is an essential concern for the present and future city development. Currently, the residential buildings contribute approximately 37.5% to significant energy consumption and carbon emissions, which mainly used for cooling. This research aims to study the house layout arrangement to minimise cooling loads and further reduce energy consumption. Energy efficiency analysis is performed by comparing the cooling load and total energy consumption from variations of the hypothetical design of detached or semi-detached housing layouts commonly built in Indonesia. The calculation of cooling loads and energy consumption is performed by simulation in Energy Plus 8.4 with Jakarta weather data. The results show that the arrangement of the house layout may reduce the cooling load up to 24%. The total conditioned wall area that varies due to the variations of house layouts are found to affect the cooling loads.

scholarly journals Energy Savings from Feedback Systems: A Meta-Studies’ Review

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 3788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zangheri ◽  
Serrenho ◽  
Bertoldi
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Feedback Systems ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Consumer Feedback ◽  
Feedback Strategies

In order to achieve the goal of the Paris Agreement and reduce energy consumption there is the need for a behavior change in energy end-users. Many studies have demonstrated that by delivering to energy users customized feedback on their energy consumption it can encourage a change in their behavior and support investments in energy efficiency and sustainable energy use. However, the resulting impact on energy consumption can vary largely depending on how, when, and to whom the feedback is delivered. This paper aims to provide an updated overview of the energy savings for the main energy consumptions in residential buildings associated with different types of feedback and against some key determinants, i.e., geographical area, time period, type of medium. This analysis is based on a comprehensive literature review of over 70 studies. Based on the review the paper draws conclusions relevant for policymakers and stakeholders interested in developing feedback strategies and tools for their wide applications. The paper focuses also on the ongoing process implementing the EU Energy Efficiency Directive articles related to billing and metering, which will enable more proactive consumer feedback.

Green cost premium for attaining energy-efficiency rating in Nigeria's hot-humid residential buildings

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Ekung ◽  
Isaac Abiodun Odesola ◽  
Timothy Adewuyi
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Average Energy ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Building Energy Efficiency ◽  
Departure Point ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Cost

PurposeThe dearth of green standards (GS) in sub-Saharan Africa is alarming and the green cost premiums (GCP) in seeking certification in emerging markets are scanty. This paper studied the Building Energy-Efficiency Code of Nigeria (BEEC) and estimated the potential GCPs associated with the various energy-efficiency ratings.Design/methodology/approachThe study retrofitted 150 conventional residential bungalow and maisonette buildings using BEEC's energy-efficiency interventions and performed analytical estimating of the retrofitted designs. The mean cost premium associated with each energy-efficiency intervention is presented as well as their financial benefits and payback periods. The benefits are achievable financial-savings due to a reduction in energy consumption and savings in electricity payment estimated from the average energy demands of each building. An independent t-test was further conducted to determine the cost differential between energy-efficient design (ED) and conventional design over a five-year period.FindingsThe potential GCPs and their payback periods are actually less than feared. The study showed that less than 5% and 21% extra funding would be required to achieve 1 to 4-Star and 5-Star energy-efficiency ratings involving passive design interventions and photovoltaic systems. Passive and active design interventions produced a financial savings of $8.08/m2 in electricity payment and $2.84/m2 per annum in energy consumption reduction. The financial-savings ($10.92/m2) was objective to pay-off the GCPs in less than four years. The independent t-test analysis showed the cost of ED is more economical after four years into the project lifecycle.Originality/valueThe research provides cost benchmarks for navigating cost planning and budgetary decisions during ED implementation and births a departure point for advancing energy-efficient construction in developing markets from the rational economic decision perspective.

scholarly journals The Effect of Building Aspect Ratio on Energy Efficiency: A Case Study for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings in Canada

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip McKeen ◽  
Alan S. Fung
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Building Area ◽  
The Relationship

This paper examines the energy consumption of varying aspect ratio in multi-unit residential buildings in Canadian cities. The aspect ratio of a building is one of the most important determinants of energy efficiency. It defines the building surface area by which heat is transferred between the interior and exterior environment. It also defines the amount of building area that is subject to solar gain. The extent to which this can be beneficial or detrimental depends on the aspect ratio and climate. This paper evaluates the relationship between the geometry of buildings and location to identify a design vernacular for energy-efficient designs across Canada.

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