Influencing user behaviour with energy information display systems for intelligent homes

This paper considers the design of energy consumption displays from a theoretical standpoint in relation to user–appliance interactions in the home. It presents the main options for display position and discusses what detailed information to display in order to promote energy saving. To guide the designer in making decisions regarding the merits of displaying appliance‐specific information (ASI) and grouped appliance information (GAI) around the home, classifications are presented of appliance‐associated micro‐behaviours and appliance control to end‐use relationships. A hybrid display approach is suggested as a most effective solution. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Building energy information systems: synthesis of costs,savings, and best-practice uses

Building energy information systems (EIS) are a powerful customer-facing monitoring and analytical technology that can enable up to 20 % site energy savings for buildings. Few technologies are as heavily marketed, but in spite of their potential, EIS remain an underadopted emerging technology. One reason is the lack of information on purchase costs and associated energy savings. While insightful, the growing body of individual case studies has not provided industry the information needed to establish the business case for investment. Vastly different energy and economic metrics prevent generalizable conclusions. This paper addresses three common questions concerning EIS use: what are the costs, what have users saved, and which best practices drive deeper savings? We present a large-scale assessment of the value proposition for EIS use based on data from over two-dozen organizations. Participants achieved year-over-year median site and portfolio savings of 17 and 8 %, respectively; they reported that this performance would not have been possible without the EIS. The median 5-year cost of EIS software ownership (up-front and ongoing costs) was calculated to be $1800 per monitoring point (kilowatt meter points were most common), with a median portfolio-wide implementation size of approximately 200 points. In this paper, we present an analysis of the relationship between key implementation factors and achieved energy reductions. Extent of efficiency projects, building energy performance prior to EIS installation, depth of metering, and duration of EIS were strongly correlated with greater savings. We also identify the best practices use of EIS associated with greater energy savings.     

Supply modes for renewable-based distributed energy systems and their applications: case studies in China

Distributed energy systems (DES), as an integrated energy system with coupled distributed energy resources, have great potential in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and improving energy efficiencies. Considering the background of urbanization and the energy revolution in China, the study investigates the renewable-based DESs supply modes and their application in China. A new method is proposed to classify DESs supply modes into three categories considering the renewable resource in domination, and their application domains are discussed. A comprehensive model is given for economic and environmental evaluation. Typical case studies show that the renewable-based DES systems can supply the energy in a cost-effective and environment-friendly way. Among them, the biomass waste dominated supply mode can not only achieve “zero” carbon emissions but also “zero” energy consumption, even though not yet economically attractive under the present policy and market conditions. Thus, recommendations are given to promote the further deployment of renewable-based DESs, regarding their supply modes, policy requirements, and issues to be addressed.     

Smart energy storage management via information systems design

Enabled by smart meters and Internet of Things (IoTs) technologies, we are now able to harness information systems and automatize the management of energy storages. Motivated by applications such as renewables integration and electrification of transportation, the paradigm shift towards smart-cities naturally inspires information systems design for energy storages. The goal of this paper is to understand the economic value of future market information to increase the efficiency of the energy market. From storages’ perspective, we investigate energy storages’ optimal decentralized buying and selling decisions under market uncertainty. Different potential policy interventions are discussed: (1) providing a publicly available market forecasting channel; (2) encouraging decentralized storages to share their private forecasts with each other; (3) releasing additional market information to a targeted subset of storages exclusively. Through these system level discussions, we evaluate different information management policies to coordinate storages’ actions and improve their profitability. The key findings of this work include (1) a storage's payoff first increases then decreases in its private information precision. The over-precision in forecasts can lead to even lower payoffs; (2) communication among the storages could fail to achieve a coordinated effort to increase market efficiency; (3) it is optimal to release additional information to a subset of energy storages exclusively by targeted information release.     

Soft energy sources in regional energy systems: The case of the Cyclades

We evaluate the potential penetration of renewable energy sources in the region of the Cyclades, which is a complex of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. The Cyclades area has a significant endogenous potential of wind, solar and geothermal energy. Future energy demand is forecast for two paths. RESOM, a linear programming regional energy optimization model, has been adapted to represent the regional energy system. The results of four scenario runs provide insight on the impact of renewable energy sources.     

Energy conservation in fossil-fuel-fired systems: Three case studies

This paper reports the results of energy analysis of oil- and coal-fired systems in a sodium silicate industry, in a mechanized bakery and in silk filatures. In all, seven systems (three oil-fired and four coal-fired units) were evaluated and energy conservation measures were suggested. It is shown that in most cases, the fuel consumption can be reduced by over half. The recommendations for fuel savings and mathematical simulations are valid for similar systems elsewhere.     

浅谈建筑能耗模拟与建筑节能

建筑能耗模拟是建筑节能设计的重要技术手段。本文介绍了建筑能耗模拟的原理，模拟软件及其特点，列举了建筑能耗模拟的应用。     

Photochemical energy conversion studies in systems containing methylene blue

The behaviour of photogalvanic cells containing methylene blue with various reducing agents has been examined. Appreciable potentials and currents have been detected. the power conversion efficiency of an EDTA-methylene blue photogalvanic cell has been estimated to be ±0.04 per cent. the storage of light energy in iron-methylene blue and EDTA-methylene blue systems has been studied.     

Design and analysis of hybrid energy systems: The Brazilian Antarctic Station case

This paper presents the design and analysis of a hybrid energy system for an Antarctic Station. The research considered the constraints of the extreme climate, the logistics limitations and the technical assets of the Brazilian Antarctic Station. The thermal and electrical annual profiles of the Station, the spreadsheets of the organic solid waste, and the local measured data of wind and sun were investigated. The application of anaerobic digestion, combined heat and power generation, use of photovoltaic panels and wind turbines were analysed. In the renewables analyses, 25 years of local climatic data were assessed. The influences of air density, temperature and ground reflectance on the renewable generation were also investigated. In order to assess potentials hybrid energy systems for the Brazilian Antarctic Station, possible topologies were organized in groups and then analysed by consumption, performance and feasibility. The methodology supported the identification of an efficient and feasible energy system for the Brazilian Station. The proposed system reached 37% of fuel saves considering the original demand profile of the Station. This work adopted the liter of oil as a currency, thus in any future time the results can be used for financial studies.     

Building energy index and end-use energy analysis in large-scale hospitals—case study in Malaysia

Hospital energy consumption is relatively high, while saving energy and reducing cost comprise one of the most important challenges considered by the majority of building designers, engineers, and decision makers. An end-use energy analysis was conducted in a large-scale hospital in Malaysia to identify energy apportioning and energy end use in the areas of air conditioning, lifts, lighting, equipment, and others. The analysis was carried out by assessing the collected desktop and field data as well as some calculations. The Building Energy Index (BEI) was calculated to compare the consumption levels in the selected hospital, which is a typical hospital building, with other hospitals in Malaysia as well as low energy buildings and Malaysian standards. The main energy source in this case study was electricity with a supply of around 75 % of total energy consumption. The current average annual electricity consumed by this hospital was 44,637,966 kWh, out of which 63 % was used by air conditioning systems and 17 % by lighting. The BEI comparison revealed that the calculated BEI of 384 kWh/m²/year is significantly higher than Malaysian rating systems and standards which recommend 200 kWh/m²/year for hospitals, 135 kWh/m²/year for commercial sectors, and is higher than previously observed hospitals with a BEI of less than 300 kWh/m²/year.     

Application of geographical information systems to rural electrification with renewable energy sources

This paper approaches one of the main problems of rural electrification: the choice of the most appropriate technology for each case. The main objective of this project is to apply Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to divide the research zone into areas in that are more appropriate for either conventional or renewable technologies. The approaches for choosing among the different technologies are usually technical and economic; these may be jointly considered by the leveling electric cost (LEC). Determination of the LEC is a complex task that requires knowledge of the capacity factor. This paper shows the conclusions of the technical and economic parameter analysis involved in the determination of the LEC for each technology. This analysis has allowed us to carry out proposals of improvement in the methodology of the GIS of rural electrification. The resulting GIS has been verified in the municipality of Lorca (Murcia, Spain).     

Unintended anchors: Building rating systems and energy performance goals for U.S. buildings

In the U.S., where buildings account for 40% of energy use, commercial buildings use more energy per unit area than ever before. However, exemplary buildings demonstrate the feasibility of much better energy performance at no additional first cost. This research examines one possible explanation for this inconsistency. The aim is to investigate whether the anchoring bias, which refers to our tendency to gravitate towards a pre-defined standard regardless of its relevance, influences energy performance goals in building design. The scope examines professionals who help set energy performance goals for U.S. buildings. Prior to being asked to set an energy performance goal, these professionals were randomly directed to one of three series of questions. One series set an anchor of 90% energy reduction beyond standard practice, one set a 30% anchor, and one set no anchor. Respondents exposed to the 90% anchor, and respondents exposed to no anchor at all, set higher energy performance goals than respondents exposed to the 30% anchor. These results suggest that building rating systems that only reward incremental energy improvements may inadvertently create anchors, thereby discouraging more advanced energy performance goals and inhibiting energy performance that is technically and economically feasible.     

Evaluation of region-specific residential energy systems for GHG reductions: Case studies in Canadian cities

This study estimates energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with operations of alternative residential energy systems. In case studies, the same detached four-bedroom house built in accordance with R2000 standards is studied in five Canadian cities with different climate and electricity mix. Conventional energy systems and alternatives using three technologies, namely ground source heat pumps (GSHPs), photovoltaics, and energy-efficient appliances; and their combinations are investigated. The results show that using a GSHP in Calgary may increase overall GHG emissions, as electricity to drive the pump is primarily produced in coal-fired power stations. Using photovoltaics to generate electricity from carbon-free sources or energy-efficient appliances to reduce electricity demands result in almost no GHG reductions in Montreal and Vancouver, where over 90% of electricity comes from hydro power. The results also show that the use of photovoltaics in combination with GSHPs in Ottawa and Toronto, or with energy-efficient appliances in Calgary, can lead to more GHG reductions, compared to the use of a single technology. As a result, while climate affects energy use to some degree, local sources of electricity may have a greater impact on overall GHG emissions, which is an important measure of environmental impacts.     

Strategic analysis methodology for energy systems with remote island case study

A strategic analysis methodology is presented for adaptive energy systems engineering to realize an optimal level of service in the context of a community's social, economic, and environmental position. The groundwork stage involves characterizing the social context, assessing available energy resources, identifying environmental issues, setting eco-resource limits, and quantifying socio-economic constraints for a given region. A spectrum of development options is then constructed according to the range of energy service levels identified for the sector under study. A spectrum of conceptual energy systems is generated and infrastructure investments and resource use are modeled. The outcome is a matrix of energy system investment possibilities for the range of energy demand levels reflecting the values, ideas, and expectations expressed by the community. These models are then used to assess technical feasibility and economic, environmental and social risk. The result is an easily understood graphical depiction of local aspirations, investment options, and risks which clearly differentiates development opportunities from non-viable concepts. The approach was applied to a case study on Rotuma, an isolated Pacific Island. The case study results show a clear development opportunity space for Rotuma where desired energy services are in balance with investment sources, resource availability, and environmental constraints.     

Modelling of water–energy systems. The case of desalination

The primary aim of this work is to assess the long-term sustainability of the desalination technology in alleviating the global freshwater crisis. The Canary Islands (Spain) have a well-established experience in desalination and the Island of Lanzarote –whose water supply is entirely dependent upon this technology—is taken as an illustrative case study. Analytical information obtained from the Material and Energy Flow Accounts of Lanzarote's desalination metabolism are fed into a model developed with the Vensim software to allow future trends, prediction and evaluate different scenarios. To conclude, the main environmental impacts of the desalination technology are addressed and some socially induced factors leading to unsustainable water management are briefly discussed.     

The role of hydrogen in high wind energy penetration electricity systems: The Irish case

The deployment of wind energy is constrained by wind uncontrollability, which poses operational problems on the electricity supply system at high penetration levels, lessening the value of wind-generated electricity to a significant extent. This paper studies the viability of hydrogen production via electrolysis using wind power that cannot be easily accommodated on the system. The potential benefits of hydrogen and its role in enabling a large penetration of wind energy are assessed, within the context of the enormous wind energy resource in Ireland. The exploitation of this wind resource may in the future give rise to significant amounts of surplus wind electricity, which could be used to produce hydrogen, the zero-emissions fuel that many experts believe will eventually replace fossil fuels in the transport sector. In this paper the operation of a wind powered hydrogen production system is simulated and optimised. The results reveal that, even allowing for significant cost-reductions in electrolyser and associated balance-of-plant equipment, low average surplus wind electricity cost and a high hydrogen market price are also necessary to achieve the economic viability of the technology. These conditions would facilitate the installation of electrolysis units of sufficient capacity to allow an appreciable increase in installed wind power in Ireland. The simulation model was also used to determine the CO₂ abatement potential associated with the wind energy/hydrogen production.     

Reimagining future energy systems: Overview of the US program to maximize energy utilization via integrated nuclear-renewable energy systems

A sustainable, balanced energy portfolio is necessary for a country's continued economic growth. This portfolio must collectively be able to provide reliable, resilient electricity at stable, affordable prices. Nuclear energy is an important contributor to global clean energy supply, both as a primary source and by complementing and enabling other clean energy sources. As we look to the design and operation of future energy systems, we see an increasing need to think differently about how we utilize our energy resources to meet all of our energy needs—not just electricity but also industrial and transportation demands. Resource utilization in light of a broader desire to reduce environmental impacts leads us to consider transforming how we use nuclear energy, which currently provides more than half of the nonemitting electricity generated in the United States. A paradigm shift is required to develop optimal energy generation and use configurations that embrace novel approaches to system integration and process design. The US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) program on Integrated Energy Systems (IES)—formerly the Nuclear-Renewable Hybrid Energy Systems (N-R HES) program—was established to evaluate potential options for the coordinated use of nuclear and renewable energy generators to meet energy demands across the electricity, industrial, and transportation sectors. These formerly independent sectors are becoming increasingly linked through technology advances in data acquisition, communications, demand response approaches, and control technologies. Advanced modeling and simulation tools can be employed to design systems that better coordinate across these sectors. Implementation of integrated multi-input, multi-output energy systems will allow for expanded use of nuclear energy beyond the grid in a manner that complements the increased build-out of variable renewable energy generation. These integrated systems would provide enhanced flexibility while also providing energy services and supporting the production of additional, nonelectric commodities (eg, potable water, hydrogen, and liquid fuels) via excess thermal and electrical energy from the nuclear system. Increased flexibility of traditionally baseload nuclear systems will support energy security, grid reliability, and grid resilience while maximizing the use of clean energy technologies. This paper provides an overview of current efforts in the United States that assess the potential to increase utilization of nuclear energy systems, in concert with renewable energy generation, via the IES program. Analysis tools and approaches and preliminary analysis results are summarized, and planned experimental activities to demonstrate integrated system performance are introduced.     

EnerGis: A geographical information based system for the evaluation of integrated energy conversion systems in urban areas

A geographical information system has been developed to model the energy requirements of an urban area. The purpose of the platform is to model with sufficient detail the energy services requirements of a given geographical area in order to allow the evaluation of the integration of advanced integrated energy conversion systems. This tool is used to study the emergence of more efficient cities that realize energy efficiency measures, integrate energy efficient conversion technologies and promote the use of endogenous renewable energy. The model is illustrated with case studies for the energetic planning of the Geneva district (Switzerland).