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Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point, 2009. / Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Natural Resources (Environmental Education & Interpretation), College of Natural Resources. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-84).

Dwindling fossil fuels and the rising price of energy has meant that attitudes towards energy usage have changed in both domestic and commercial settings. This change in attitude has led to the development of smart metering technologies that are currently being rolled out across the world. The research has been developed to be able to add functionality to smart metering devices by providing information about energy usage within the premises through Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM). The thesis provides a detailed description of the work undertaken to develop a novel method of load disaggregation within NILM to aid in the monitoring of energy usage and the provision of consumer feedback which can be integrated into smart metering technologies. The research aims to provide a novel approach to NILM through the use of canopy clustering for its main process of load disaggregation. Canopy clustering provides the necessary tools for separating out appliances and groups of appliances for later classification into individual loads, which brings many benefits compared to other technologies. The research methodology has been developed with robust techniques of data gathering, model development and validation through a rigorous testing approach. Real world examples of loads have been used for the creation and development of the models. The use of contemporary appliances within the research has meant that the NILM algorithm developed is current and usable. In the final implementation it could be commercialised for use by the general public. The full procedures of the algorithm have been explained in detail with the addition of information on the final classification methods that could be used when implemented within smart metering devices. Further work and improvements to the research have also been included for consideration.

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The primary focus of this body of research is to understand the drivers of consumer behaviour, towards electricity conservation in South African households. The underlying rationale is to influence a reduction in energy consumption by stimulating energy efficient behaviours, thereby reducing the impact of energy use on the environment. The outcomes shall be of benefit to policy makers who need to introduce the most effective interventions, and businesses that are engaged in the design and manufacture of energy efficient technologies and services. Owing to the limited research in South Africa on the subject of electricity conservation behaviour, the study applied a qualitative research methodology to validate the existing theory on energy efficient consumer behaviour, as well as to establish new insights from South African residential electricity consumers. The research findings are consistent with that of past research conducted in the US and Europe with the major difference noted on the level of environmental consciousness. While South Africans are conscious of the concepts of climate change and environmental degradation, they do not readily perceive domestic consumption of electricity as having a detrimental impact on the environment. Their foremost motivation to conserve electricity is inspired by the personal financial savings or potential savings, rather than to appease their conscience with regard to environmental impact. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

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0 / SPK / specialcollections@tulane.edu

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The demand for energy increases every year, and it is important that we ensure that the energy consumed is used efficiently. This study examines a system which provides energy in multiple forms from multiple energy sources using multiple energy conversion equipment. Such a system is termed a Central Energy Plan (CEP). A linear programming model was formulated to provide a close approximation of a CEP operation. It was used to determine the optimal operating configuration, that is, which equipment should be on or off at a particular time of the day to minimize the operating cost of the plant while at the same time meeting output requirements. The CEP model was validated by using actual data provided by the physical plant personnel at the University of Central Florida (UCF). The feasibility of installation of a steam turbine driven electrical generator to improve the performance of the CEP was investigated as a test vehicle to prove the practicality of the model.