Plug loads—traditionally viewed as behaviorally motivated and beyond the control of designers and operations—are now seen as an integral part of achieving low-energy building targets. Higher education institutions are increasingly recognizing the environmental impacts of campus facilities through holistic approaches to energy savings including energy efficient design and occupant engagement. Residence halls are a compelling example because students bring large numbers of electronics to their rooms and have unlimited access to power for an all-inclusive room rate and resource usage competitions and campaigns are commonplace. However, limited research exists on residence halls plug loads. This dissertation asked the following of residence halls: (1) What are the measured plug loads and how do they compare with design estimates? (2) What role do building design characteristics play in plug loads? (3) What are the specific occupant behaviors that could influence future design? (4) How can plug loads be better understood in terms of behavior, design, and operations? To answer these questions, a sequential mixed methods study included field measurements and student surveys in six residence halls on three Oregon campuses followed by 24 interviews with designers, operators, and students. Findings suggest that plug loads in occupied residence halls are higher and usage profiles differ from design predictions. Results do not show significant correlations between design characteristics and plug loads but suggest that some room/suite level features may play a somewhat stronger role. Survey responses indicated that students are doing more with fewer smart devices, which suggests opportunities for students sharing energy intensive devices. Lighting emerged as both a practical and a social consideration. Finally, the data revealed “balance of power” as a coherent process that explicates the relationships between design, operations, and behavior. Designers have the power to recommend plug load strategies and technologies but are limited by costs, maintenance, and political concerns; operations personnel have the power to impose limits on student power usage but are often reluctant to interfere with the overall living experience; and students have the power to use plug load electricity with few restrictions. This suggests that the balance may be skewed toward student behavior.

abstract: Energy performance and efficiency plays of major role in the operations of K-12 schools, as it is a significant expense and a source of budgetary pressure upon schools. Energy performance is tied to the physical infrastructure of schools, as well as the operational and behavioral patterns they accommodate. Little documentation exists within the existing literature on the measured post-occupancy performance of schools once they have begun measuring and tracking their energy performance. Further, little is known about the patterns of change over time in regard to energy performance and whether there is differentiation in these patterns between school districts. This paper examines the annual Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 28 different K-12 schools within the Phoenix Metropolitan Region of Arizona over the span of five years and presents an analysis of changes in energy performance resulting from the measurement of energy use in K-12 schools. This paper also analyzes the patterns of change in energy use over time and provides a comparison of these patterns by school district. An analysis of the energy performance data for the selected schools revealed a significant positive impact on the ability for schools to improve their energy performance through ongoing performance measurement. However, while schools tend to be able to make energy improvements through the implementation of energy measurement and performance tracking, deviation may exist in their ability to maintain ongoing energy performance over time. The results suggest that implementation of ongoing measurement is likely to produce positive impacts on the energy performance of schools, however further research is recommended to enhance and refine these results. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Construction 2015

Energy efficiency within the housing sector is progressing. In Vallastaden which is a newly developed city district in Linköping, Sweden, constructors together with the municipality have made attempts to create a sustainable built environment. One of the goals was to establish energy efficient residential buildings in Vallastaden. The overall aim of the study was to investigate the development of two energy plus buildings in Vallastaden and explore the potentials for the energy concept in these buildings to reduce the energy use. The perceptions of the occupants were included in the study since their views and practices play an important part for the buildings’ energy performance. Qualitative interviews were conducted with informants from two housing companies and three households. The findings show that the motives for the housing companies were try out new things and progress within the housing sector. The housing companies were however uncertain if their buildings would become energy efficient in practice since it depended on how the occupants would interact with the technology and the energy concept. There is a risk that the energy concept and the technology may not reach its full potential in reducing energy since the occupants either had no reflection about their role in the energy concept or were uncertain about the technology. The communication between the housing companies and the occupants needs to be strengthened for occupants to realize their influence on the energy use in these buildings.

Orientador: Alberto Luiz Francato / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T19:07:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lopes_WagnerPernias_M.pdf: 6621269 bytes, checksum: 0b0897224320a8583df095412b26f107 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: A dissertação propõe a utilização de metodologias de otimização e simulação para avaliação de impactos energéticos para uma cascata de aproveitamento múltiplo (navegação e geração hidrelétrica), considerando-se diversos cenários de crescimento setoriais e incertezas hidrológicas. A eficiência dos segmentos de transporte e energia é fundamental para o desempenho competitivo em um ambiente de economia globalizada. Países em desenvolvimento de dimensões continentais como a República Popular da China, Índia e Federação Russa têm apresentado elevadas taxas de crescimento econômico, subsidiadas por intensos investimentos nos setores de transporte e energia. O Brasil utiliza pouco o seu potencial natural para a navegação de interior. As poucas instalações existentes, com o propósito de uso múltiplo estão subutilizadas para navegação. Neste cenário, o Brasil, através de políticas setoriais de investimentos tem fomentado o desenvolvimento dos setores de infra-estrutura, principalmente o de transporte e energia. Neste contexto, a dissertação apresenta os resultados obtidos com aplicação da metodologia de otimização e simulação em um estudo de caso para a cascata do rio Tietê. A metodologia para avaliação de impactos proposta nesta dissertação apresenta grande relevância para os setores de energia e transportes, além de trazer contribuição científica para análise integrada de problemas em modelos de simulação e otimização / Abstract: The paper proposed the use of optimization and simulation methodologies for assessing impacts on energy production in a cascade of multiple use (navigation and hydropower generation) for various scenarios of sectoral growth and hydrological uncertainties. The efficiency of transport and energy sectors is important to the competitive performance of a country in an environment of a global economy. Developing countries with large continental dimensions, such as Popular Republic of China, India and Russia, have presented high rates of economic growth, which is subsidized by heavy investments in transport and energy. Brazil makes little use of its great natural potential for inland navigation. The few facilities established with the purpose of multiple use are underutilized for navigation. In this scenario, Brazil, through local policies and investment programs, has encouraged the development of the sectors of infrastructure, particularly for transportation and energy. In this context, this dissertation presents the methodology and the results obtained from a case study of a stretch of the Tietê river. The methodology for impact assessment proposed in this thesis is highly relevant to the sectors of energy and transport, besides bringing scientific contribution to the integrated analysis of problems related to simulation models and optimization / Mestrado / Recursos Hidricos, Energeticos e Ambientais / Mestre em Engenharia Civil

This dissertation aims to evaluate the energy use of household waste by considering the various existing technologies. The achievement of this study was made possible by the bibliography of studies relevant to the topic to the theme in focus, and from them were chosen technologies Incineration, Waste Gas and Anaerobic Digestion, used for energy recovery of municipal solid waste. A powerful convergence of interests mentioned above are the sustainability indicators that provide a diagnosis of reality, able to spot trends and possible solutions to the problems faced. From the sustainability indicators, we can define what technology provides a better trend toward sustainability through economic, social, political, cultural and environmental. Shortly before the scenario in which Brazil is presented, we can see that regardless of the technology employed, the environmental, social and economic development is still the biggest destination of illegal waste. Therefore, this study suggested sustainability indicators that contribute to choosing the most appropriate technology for power generation as well as subsidies for the development and implementation of public policies by managers for sustainable development. / Esta dissertação tem como objetivo avaliar o aproveitamento energético dos resíduos domésticos considerando as diversas tecnologias existentes. A consecução do presente estudo foi possível mediante o levantamento bibliográfico de estudos realizados ao tema pertinente à temática em foco e, a partir dos mesmos, foram escolhidas as tecnologias Incineração, Gás de Lixo e Digestão Anaeróbia, utilizadas para o aproveitamento energético dos resíduos sólidos urbanos. Uma ferramenta poderosa de convergência dos interesses acima mencionados são os indicadores de sustentabilidade que fornecem um diagnóstico da realidade, capazes de sinalizar tendências e possíveis soluções para os problemas enfrentados. A partir dos indicadores de sustentabilidade, pode-se definir qual tecnologia proporciona uma melhor tendência à sustentabilidade através das dimensões econômica, social, política, cultural e ambiental. Logo, neste trabalho foram sugeridos indicadores de sustentabilidade que contribuem para a escolha da tecnologia mais apropriada para a geração de energia, bem como subsídios para a elaboração e implantação de políticas públicas por parte dos gestores visando o desenvolvimento sustentável.

Byggbranschen ställdes för en tid sedan inför utmaningen att bygga byggnader som var mer hållbara sett som en färdig produkt. Detta i form av en mindre energianvändning, mindre miljöpåverkande material med mera. Denna utveckling har gjort att byggproduktionen som fas, blivit en större del av byggbranschens miljöpåverkan. Intresset för ett utökat arbete med att skapa mer ekologiskt/ miljömässigt hållbara byggarbetsplatser har ökat kraftigt under de senaste åren. Då det kan vara dyrt att utvärdera sin egen verksamhet för att hitta förbättringsåtgärder har främst de stora bolagen i Sverige gjort radikala förändringar i det dagliga arbetet. Detta har ökat intresset för ByggTema i Örebro AB att följa samma spår för att konkurrera med likvärdiga miljöparametrar. Studien hade som ingångspunkt att hitta enkla förbättringsåtgärder för ByggTema att tillämpa i hela processen för uppförandet av en byggnad. För att undersöka hur intresset och kunskapsnivån var inom företaget genomfördes en enkätundersökning, där det visade att de aktivt sorterar avfall och att de har för lite tid på varje projekt att utveckla det aktiva miljöarbetet i byggproduktionen. Kommande steg i studien var att intervjua utvalda personer inom ByggTema för att få en inblick i vad som sker i det detaljerade arbetet kring dessa frågor, samt hitta möjliga lösningar på de problem som i dagsläget hindrar ett mer ekologiskt/ miljövänligt arbete i byggproduktionen. När informationen kring detta samlats in utfördes fältstudier på två skolbyggnationsprojekt belägna i Örebro (Brunnsskolan och Norrbyskolan). Detta för att kunna dra slutsatser kring vilka förbättringsåtgärder som lämpar sig för ByggTema att tillämpa i verksamheten. Resultatet av studien blev en rad möjliga förbättringsåtgärder för ByggTema att applicera i sin verksamhet. Dessa var bland andra att, involvera fler i planeringsskedet, öka kunskapsnivån/ medvetenheten hos anställda genom interna och externa utbildningar, ställa höga krav på underentreprenörer i form av belysning och containrar. Kortfattat bör oisolerade containrar som kräver uppvärmning förbjudas, även halogenlampor bör förbjudas för att ge plats åt LED-lampor med en avsevärt lägre energianvändning. Bodar med låg energiklassning bör förbjudas, partnering bör tillämpas och viljan till samverkan ska vara gemensam. / The construction industry was recently faced with the challenge of constructing that were more sustainable as a finished product. This in terms of less energy use, less environmental impacts, and more. This development has meant that the construction industry in order to develop a completed building has become a larger part of the construction industry's environmental impact. The interest in expanding work to create more ecologically/ environmentally sustainable construction sites has increased sharply in recent years. As it may be expensive to evaluate their own business to find improvement measures, the major companies in Sweden have made radical changes in daily work. This has increased the interest of ByggTema in Örebro AB to follow in the same track to compete with equivalent environmental parameters. The starting point of the study has been to find simple improvement measures for ByggTema to apply throughout the building process. To investigate how interest and knowledge levels were within the company, a survey was used, which showed that they actively sort waste and that they have too little time on each project to develop active environmental work in building production. The next steps in the study were to interview selected individuals within ByggTema to get an insight into what is happening in the detailed work on these issues, as well as to find possible solutions to the problems that currently hinder more ecological/ environmentally friendly work in building production. When gathering information about this, field studies were carried out at two school projects located in Örebro (Brunns School and Norrby School). This in order to draw conclusions about which improvement measures are appropriate for ByggTema to apply in the business. The result of the study was a number of possible improvement measures for ByggTema to apply in its operations. These included, among other things, involving more personnel in the planning phase, increasing the level of knowledge/ awareness of employees through internal and external education, high demands on subcontractors in the form of lighting and containers. In short, uninsulated containers that need to be heated should be banned and halogen lamps should be prohibited to accommodate LEDs with significantly lower energy consumption. Low energy shed should be banned, partnerships should be applied and the willingness to cooperate should be common.

Reducing energy demand and carbon emissions from the UK housing stock through efficiency improvements is the focus of policy interest. The 2008 UK Climate Change Act set legally binding targets of an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions against a 1990 baseline. The majority of emissions in the residential sector are carbon dioxide emissions arising from energy used for heating homes and water, cooking, lighting and electrical appliances. The sector s contribution to total UK emissions is significant and therefore reducing energy use in homes is an important factor if the UK is to meet its targets. In this research an initial survey of studies of the residential sector has been conducted to review factors considered to influence energy use and related emissions in UK housing. Further review identified energy and climate change policy instruments and structural change in the energy supply sector between 1970 and the present. A subsequent time-line of policy and events describes the changing, historical policy landscape related to energy efficiency improvements in the sector. As a result of these reviews, a need to better understand how householders have responded to technical energy efficiency improvements in housing, and the influence of social and economic factors, was identified as a research gap. In order to model householders historical behaviour Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was identified as an innovative approach for this field of research as a potential means to measure sector efficiency in a new way. The analysis has two stages. In the first, DEA is used to measure the relative efficiency with which the UK housing sector has managed its energy use and related emissions to deliver energy services such as space heating and lighting to householders. In the second stage, multiple regressions are used to examine whether the variability over time in the efficiency measure can be explained by policy interventions, energy market developments, and economic and social factors. DEA is a method for modelling the relative performance efficiency with which an observed sample converts measurable inputs to quantitative outputs. In this research, samples consist of annual observations of the UK housing stock, using data largely taken from DECC s UK housing energy fact file. An efficiency frontier of performance enveloping the observed sample points as closely as possible is constructed through DEA mathematical programming. The core of the analysis lies in identifying relevant quantitative input and output measures from available data. A range of measures of comfort and energy service levels to represent energy service outputs, and household energy and emissions data to represent inputs are examined in the analysis. The result is a timeline of efficiency performance that can be related to socio-economic change and the history of policy interventions. The analysis shows that the efficiency of the UK housing stock to manage its energy use and related emissions has not followed the steady upward trend that might have been expected from technical innovation. There is evidence of rebound effects over time, with householders behaviour in response to technical efficiency improvements acting to raise comfort levels rather than lower energy usage. Nevertheless, statistically significant roles can be identified for factors such as income, price and tenure which have implications for policy design and control and lead to a number of policy recommendations.

Energy is consumed every day at home as we perform simple tasks, such as watching television, washing dishes and heating/cooling home spaces during season of extreme weather conditions, using appliances, or turning on lights. Most often, the energy resources used in residential systems are obtained from natural gas, coal and oil. Moreover, climate change has increased awareness of a need for expendable, energy resources. As a result, carbon dioxide emissions are increasing and creating a negative effect on our environment and on our health. In fact, growing energy demands and limited natural resource might have negative impacts on our future. Therefore, saving energy is becoming an important issue in our society and it is receiving more attention from the research community. This thesis introduces a intelligent energy controller algorithm based on software agent approach that reduce the energy consumption at home for both heating and cooling spaces by considering the user’s occupancy, outdoor temperature and user’s preferences as input to the system. Thus the proposed approach takes into consideration the occupant’s preferred temperature, the occupied and unoccupied spaces, as well as the time spent in each area of the home. A Java based simulator has been implemented to simulate the algorithm for saving energy in heating and cooling systems. The results from the simulator are compared to the results of using HOT2000, which is Canada’s leading residential energy analysis and rating software developed by CanmetENERGY’s Housing, Buildings, Communities and Simulation (HBCS) group. We have calculated how much energy a home modelled will use under emulated conditions. The results showed that the implementation of the proposed energy controller algorithm can save up to 50% in energy consumption in homes dedicated to heating and cooling systems compared to the results obtained by using HOT2000.

<p>NR 20140805</p>

Les ménages sont responsables d’une part significative des consommations d’énergie et des émissions de CO2, en particulier si l’on tient compte des consommations d’énergie et des émissions indirectes liées aux processus de production des biens et services consommés. Plusieurs travaux scientifiques et recommandations d’organisations gouvernementales et d’associations non-gouvernementales soulignent que des modifications des modes de consommations seront sans doute nécessaires pour atteindre les objectifs climatiques fixés aujourd’hui. Notre thèse propose une méthode d’analyse prospective de changements de mode de vie, qui permet d’en estimer les impacts macro-économiques ainsi que ceux sur les consommations d’énergie et les émissions de CO2, tout en tenant compte de l'hétérogénéité des ménages en matière de comportements et de consommations d'énergie. Notre méthode explore les modes de consommation des ménages de manière fine, en prenant en considération le lien entre emplois du temps et consommations. En effet, les choix de consommation sont soumis non seulement à des contraintes de budget, mais également à des contraintes qui dérivent du temps à disposition et qui ne sont jamais prises en compte dans la prospective macro- économique. Nous construisons une base de données détaillant emplois du temps, dépenses et consommations d’énergie des ménages français et nous l’articulons à un modèle de prospective économique énergie-émissions par un processus de repondération itératif. Nous illustrons la portée de cet outil à travers l’analyse de trois scénarios, centrés respectivement sur la diffusion de nouvelles formes de mobilité (covoiturage et autopartage), la généralisation des achats en ligne et le retour vers le faire soi-même en matière d'alimentation. Pour les trois scénarios nous observons des réductions des consommations d’énergie et des émissions de CO2. Par exemple, les émissions totales diminuent de 2,3% en 2050 dans le scénario sur la mobilité. / Household energy consumption represents a significant share of final energy use, especially when both direct and embodied energy are taken into account. Several academic studies, as well as the recommendations of the United Nations and of non-governmental organisations, suggest that a shift in consumption patterns will be necessary to achieve sustainable development. The aim of our research is to analyse long-term scenarios of changes in lifestyle. We propose a methodology that allows to analyse the macro-economic impacts of these changes, as well as the impacts on energy use and CO2 emissions, while taking into account the heterogeneity of behaviours and energy consumptions among households. Consumption choices do not derive solely from monetary considerations but they are influenced by several factors. One binding constraint, never taken into account in macro-economic energy modelling, is the available time. For this reason, our analysis considers time use data in addition to expenditure and energy use data. We build a data base that combines time use, expenditure and energy consumption data for French households, which provides detailed information about household consumption patterns. Then, for scenario analyses, we link the data base with an Energy-EconomyEmissions model, using an iteration process based on a reweighting technique. We illustrate the methodology by exploring three areas of change in consumption patterns: cooking habits, ecommerce and shared transport (carpooling and car sharing). We obtain CO2 emissions reductions in all scenarios. As an example, emissions decrease by 2.3% by 2050 in the scenario focusing on transport.