10,153 research outputs found

    Methodologies for Assessment of Building's Energy Efficiency and Conservation: A Policy-Maker View

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    Recent global peer-review reports have concluded on importance of buildings in tacking the energy security and climate change challenges. To integrate the buildings energy efficiency into the policy agenda, significant research efforts have been recently done. More specifically, the public domain provides a bulk of literature on the application of buildings-related efficiency technologies and behavioural patterns, barriers to penetration of these practices, policies to overcome these barriers. From the policy-making perspective it is useful to understand how far our understanding of building energy efficiency goes and the approaches and methodologies are behind such assessment.Buildings, energy efficiency potential, greenhouse gas mitigation, policy assessment, energy policy impact evaluation, sectoral efficiency targets

    Energy-Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Policy Options: Assisting Chinese Cities in Prioritizing and Choosing Strategies

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    Myriad energy-efficiency and greenhouse gas mitigation policy options are available for urban communities to reduce energy use and emissions from buildings, transportation systems, industries, utilities, public lighting, water and wastewater, and solid waste disposal. This paper describes a methodology to assist urban community planners and policymakers in China to prioritize and choose strategies to implement for their particular situation. The methodology was developed for use in a dynamic decision-making tool, the Benchmarking and Energy-Saving Tool for Low Carbon Cities (BEST-Cities), which was specifically designed for urban communities in China but which could be used internationally. The methodology builds on concepts from other urban low-carbon planning tools, but augments them to address specific Chinese conditions and needs. The methodology starts by conducting a simple inventory of energy use by end-use sector, which is then converted by the tool into units of carbon dioxide and methane emissions. Next, Key Performance Indicators are calculated and the tool benchmarks the city to other cities, providing an indication of the energy saving and emissions reduction potential for each end-use sector as a first step for policy prioritization. Then the level of authority and capacity of the city in terms of financial and human resources and enforcement is self-assessed since these are also important inputs for policy prioritization. The tool then provides Chinese planners and policy-makers with a menu of policies and measures prioritized by sector based on the identified energy and emissions reduction potential and distinguished by speed of implementation, carbon savings potential, and first cost to the government. Planners and policymakers then prioritize the policy options based on their specific criteria and needs

    Energy use in residential buildings: Impact of building automation control systems on energy performance and flexibility

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    This work shows the results of a research activity aimed at characterizing the energy habits of Italian residential users. In detail, by the energy simulation of a buildings sample, the opportunity to implement a demand/response program (DR) has been investigated. Italian residential utilities are poorly electrified and flexible loads are low. The presence of an automation system is an essential requirement for participating in a DR program and, in addition, it can allow important reductions in energy consumption. In this work the characteristics of three control systems have been defined, based on the services incidence on energy consumptions along with a sensitivity analysis on some energy drivers. Using the procedure established by the European Standard EN 15232, the achievable energy and economic savings have been evaluated. Finally, a financial analysis of the investments has been carried out, considering also the incentives provided by the Italian regulations. The payback time is generally not very long: depending on the control system features it varies from 7 to 10 years; moreover, the automation system installation within dwellings is a relatively simple activity, which is characterized by a limited execution times and by an initial expenditure ranging in 1000 € to 4000 €, related to the three sample systems

    California's Secret Energy Surplus: The Potential for Energy Efficiency

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    Assesses the achievable energy efficiency potential over the next ten years across California for all electricity customers using hundreds of commercially available measures

    Energy, carbon and cost performance of building stocks : upgrade analysis, energy labelling and national policy development

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    The area of policy formulation for the energy and carbon performance of buildings is coming under increasing focus. A major challenge is to account for the large variation within building stocks relative to factors such as location, climate, age, construction, previous upgrades, appliance usage, and type of heating/cooling/lighting system. Existing policy-related tools that rely on simple calculation methods have limited ability to represent the dynamic interconnectedness of technology options and the impact of possible future changes in climate and occupant behaviour. The use of detailed simulation tools to address these limitations in the context of policy development has hitherto been focussed on the modelling of a number of representative designs rather than dealing with the spread inherent in large building stocks. Further, these tools have been research-oriented and largely unsuitable for direct use by policy-makers, practitioners and, ultimately, building owners/occupiers. This paper summarises recent initiatives that have applied advanced modelling and simulation in the context of policy formulation for large building stocks. To exemplify the stages of the process, aspects of the ESRU Domestic Energy Model (EDEM) are described. EDEM is a policy support tool built on detailed simulation models aligned with the outcomes of national surveys and future projections for the housing stock. On the basis of pragmatic inputs, the tool is able to determine energy use, carbon emissions and upgrade/running cost for any national building stock or sub-set. The tool has been used at the behest of the Scottish Building Standards Agency and South Ayrshire Council to determine the impact of housing upgrades, including the deployment of new and renewable energy systems, and to rate the energy/carbon performance of individual dwellings as required by the European Commission's Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EC 2002)

    HVAC System Design for Building Efficiency in KSA

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    Air conditioning is a complex field that encompasses the simultaneous management of all mechanical parameters essential for the comfort of individuals, animals, and industrial or scientific processes. The system consists of parts and equipment organized to meet different conditions required for comfort in residential and industrial settings. Increasing demand has led to rapid growth in air conditioning systems and manufacturers, with a focus on selecting the right system for energy efficiency. Improving energy efficiency in HVAC systems is crucial due to rising energy consumption over recent decades, which raises concerns about future energy crises and environmental impacts. Measures aimed at improving energy efficiency in buildings are intended not only to reduce energy costs but also to offer additional benefits such as lower maintenance requirements, improved comfort, reduced electricity use for lighting and appliances, and enhanced property value. HVAC systems can be categorized by their method of heating control within conditioned spaces. This analysis guides on selecting suitable systems based on specific application needs while considering short-term and long-term goals. Achieving efficient HVAC systems requires enhancements in integrated mechanical components design as well as optimal plant operation — contributing to significant reductions in power consumption considering that buildings account for over 40% of total power consumption in developed countries. This Special Issue focuses on advancing understanding related to efficient HVAC systems including cooling technologies, component design optimization strategies like regenerative processes, and effective handling of thermal storage aspects

    On the Road to a Unified Market for Energy Efficiency: The Contribution of White Certificates Schemes

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    White certificates schemes mandate competing energy companies to promote energy efficiency with flexibility mechanisms, including the trading of energy savings. So far, stylized facts are lacking and outcomes are mainly country-specific. By comparing results of British, Italian and French experiences, we attempt to identify the core determinants of their performances. We show that (i) white certificates schemes are depicted in theoretical works as mandatory subsidies on energy efficiency goods recovered by an end-use energy tax, whereby white certificates exchanges are not a central feature; (ii) at current stages, existing schemes are cost-effective and economically efficient, with large discrepancies though; (iii) the hybrid subsidy-tax mechanism seems valid but conditional to cost pass through permissions; otherwise, obliged energy companies merely promote information on the “downstream” side (i.e. at the consumer level); (iv) although white certificates exchange between different types of actors involved can be important as in Italy, trade among obliged companies is negligible; instead, flexibility sustains vertical relationships between obliged parties and “upstream” partners (i.e. installers, energy service companies). In this respect, we support the view that white certificates schemes are a policy instrument of multi-functional nature (subsidisation, information, technology diffusion), whose static and dynamic efficiency depends upon the consistency between a proper definition of long-term energy savings, the appropriate cost-recovery permission and a fine coordination with other instruments. We finally propose a four stages deployment pattern, along which fragmented markets for energy efficient technologies get closer to create a unified market delivering energy efficiency as a homogeneous good.White Certificates Schemes, Static Efficiency, Dynamic Efficiency, Vertical Organisation, Policy Coordination

    Energy Retrofit in European Building Portfolios: A Review of Five Key Aspects

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    The research about energy efficiency in buildings has exponentially increased during the last few years. Nevertheless, both research and practice still cannot rely on complete methodologies tailored for building portfolios as a whole, because the attention has always been drawn to individual premises. Yet, energy efficiency analyses need to go beyond the single building perspective and incorporate strategic district approaches to optimize the retrofit investment. For this purpose, several aspects should be considered simultaneously, and new methodologies should also be promoted. Therefore, this paper aims to discuss energy retrofit campaigns in building portfolios, drawing an exhaustive and updated review about the challenge of jumping from the single-building perspective to a stock-based analysis. This research discusses the publications available on the topic from five key aspects that are all essential steps in achieving a complete and reliable study of energy efficiency at a portfolio level. They are energy modelling and assessment, energy retrofit design, decision-making criteria assessment, optimal allocation of (financial) resources and risk valuation. This review, therefore, advocates for joint consideration of the problem as a basis on which to structure further disciplinary developments. Research gaps are highlighted, and new directions for future research are suggested

    Energy Service Companies Market in Europe - Status Report 2010

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    The present report is the 2007-2010 European ESCO status report, continuing the work of the "Latest Development of Energy Services Companies across Europe European" (Status Report 2007) published by the European Commission DG Joint Research Center in 2007 and which covered the European ESCO market development during 2005-2007. The first ESCO report of this series is Energy Service Companies in Europe (Status Report 2005) published by the European Commission DG Joint Research Center in 2005. The aim of the present report is to update and to investigate the specific situation in every country in more detail. To this end, the authors sketch the current status of national markets, and identify changes that have occurred during 2007-2010. In addition, the factors influencing the development are investigated. Specific barriers are identified and potential interventions to increase energy efficiency investments and to exploit energy saving potentials through ESCOs across Europe are discussed.JRC.DDG.F.8-Renewable Energy (Ispra
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