scholarly journals Energy perceptions in South Africa: An analysis of behaviour and understanding of electric water heaters

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ (Thinus) Booysen

Using data from an online national survey conducted in South Africa, this paper aims to investigate: the awareness of energy savings measures for electric water heaters (EWHs); whether or not consumers are implementing suggested measures; and if consumers understand and effectively control their EWHs’ energy usage. Additionally, the data is used to determine the success of educational and rebate programmes aimed at reducing residential energy usage and to determine possible motivations for encouraging users to reduce or alter their EWH energy and warm water consumption. The results of this questionnaire indicate that: convenience is a key factor in consumers’ willingness to implement curtailment actions; users don’t understand the energy consumption of their EWHs; and they don’t know how to control their EWHs efficiently.

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-34
Author(s):  
Farheen Bano ◽  
Vandana Sehgal

In this study, the energy consumption of three government and three private office buildings in Lucknow was investigated, and the energy performance index (EPI) for each building was determined. The main purpose of this research was to assess the energy usage of the buildings and identify factors affecting the energy usage. An analysis was performed using data from an energy audit of government buildings, electricity bills of private office buildings, and an on-site visit to determine building envelope materials and its systems. The annual energy consumption of buildings has been evaluated through EPI. The EPI, measured in kilowatt hour per square meter per year, is annual energy consumption in kilowatt hours divided by the gross floor area of the building in square meters. In this study, the energy benchmark for day-time-use office buildings in composite climate specified by Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) has been compared with the energy consumption of the selected buildings. Consequently, it has been found that the average EPI of the selected buildings was close to the national energy benchmark indicated by ECBC. Moreover, factors causing inefficient energy consumption were determined, and solutions for consistent energy savings are suggested for buildings in composite climate.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3912
Author(s):  
Wassim Salameh ◽  
Jalal Faraj ◽  
Elias Harika ◽  
Rabih Murr ◽  
Mahmoud Khaled

In the context of a world energy crisis, the only solution to control the situation is in the management of energy. One of the most important management keys is the optimization of electrical components. This article presents a complete numerical and experimental study aiming for the optimization of electrical water heaters for household use. The optimization conceives the minimization of energy consumption simultaneously with the minimization of time to heat water. Firstly, a thermal model well adapted for the case of heaters is constructed and validated experimentally and then a parametric study is conducted covering all the input power, the volume and the external area of the heater. Results are promising, showing significant energy savings are possible with an optimum setting of these parameters, thus presenting a firm tool for the optimization of heaters.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 13863
Author(s):  
Yana Akhtyrska ◽  
Franz Fuerst

This study examines the impact of energy management and productivity-enhancing measures, implemented as part of LEED Existing Buildings Operations and Management (EBOM) certification, on source energy use intensity and rental premiums of office spaces using data on four major US markets. Energy management practices, comprised of commissioning and advanced metering, may reduce energy usage. Conversely, improving air quality and occupant comfort in an effort to increase worker productivity may in turn lead to higher overall energy consumption. The willingness to pay for these features in rental office buildings is hypothesised to depend not only on the extent to which productivity gains enhance the profits of a commercial tenant but also on the lease arrangements for passing any energy savings to the tenant. We apply a difference-in-differences method at a LEED EBOM certification group level and a multi-level modelling approach with a panel data structure. The results indicate that energy management and indoor environment practices have the expected effect on energy consumption as described above. However, the magnitude of the achieved rental premiums appears to be independent of the lease type.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingxin Gao ◽  
Xiaoyang Zhong ◽  
Weiguang Cai ◽  
Hong Ren ◽  
Tengfei Huo ◽  
...  

Abstract Urban residential buildings make large contributions to energy consumption. Energy consumption per square meter is most widely used to measure energy efficiency in urban residential buildings. This study aims to explore whether it is an appropriate indicator. An extended STIRPAT model was used based on the survey data from 867 households. Here we present that building area per household has a dilution effect on energy consumption per square meter. Neglecting this dilution effect leads to a significant overestimation of the effectiveness of building energy savings standards. Further analysis suggests that the peak of energy consumption per square meter in China’s urban residential buildings occurred in 2012 when accounting for the dilution effect, which is 11 years later than it would have occurred without considering the dilution effect. Overall, overlooking the dilution effect may lead to misleading judgments of crucial energy-saving policy tools, as well as the ongoing trend of residential energy consumption in China.


Author(s):  
Yazed Yasin Ghadi ◽  
Ali M. Baniyounes

<p>Evaluation and estimation of energy consumption are essential in order to classify the amount of energy used and the way it is utilized in building. Hence, the possibility of any energy savings potential and energy savings opportunities can be identified. The intention of this article is to study and evaluate energy usage pattern of the Central Queensland University campus’ buildings, Queensland, Australia. This article presents the field survey results from the audit of an office building and performance-related measurements of the indoor environmental parameters, for instance, indoor air temperature, humidity and energy consumption concerned to the indoor heating and cooling load. Monthly observed energy usage information was employed to investigate influence of the climate conditions on energy usage.</p>


Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 663
Author(s):  
Aidana Tleuken ◽  
Galym Tokazhanov ◽  
Aray-Bibi Serikbay ◽  
Kuanysh Zhalgasbayev ◽  
Mert Guney ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the daily behaviors of people by forcing them to spend the majority of their time in their residences, particularly during social distancing measures. The increased time spent at home is expected to influence, among other things, the daily consumption of utilities: specifically, water and energy. A prolonged presence of residents at home during COVID-19 lockdowns might increase strain on water and energy resources, which are mostly from non-renewable sources in several countries, including Kazakhstan; however, such potentially important effects have not yet been studied for the country. The present research aims to evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns have affected the water and energy consumption in residential housings in cities of varying sizes in Kazakhstan, providing a novel understanding of the effect of pandemic lockdowns on household energy and water consumption. Energy and water consumption data of Almaty, Shymkent, and Atyrau have been first obtained from the local service companies, and then, the usage behavior was analyzed for the periods before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. After, statistical tests were conducted to check the hypotheses regarding the effect of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns on the consumption of energy and water. The findings indicate that residential energy and water consumption increased during the lockdown periods in large and medium cities. Nevertheless, this growth is not highly significant compared to similar non-pandemic timeframes. This result could indicate a particular risk for sustainable resources consumption and put pressure on the supply companies. Moreover, in case of further lockdown measures, current building systems are at risk of increased pressure, and eventually, of failure.


2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Hasan ◽  
Bhekisipho Twala ◽  
Khmaies Ouahada ◽  
Tshilidzi Marwala

Abstract In recent years, South Africa has encountered a critical electricity supply which necessitated the implementation of demand-side management (DSM) projects. Load shifting and energy (EE) efficiency projects were introduced in mining sector to reduce the electricity usage during day peak time. As the compressed air networks and the water pumping systems are using large amounts of the mines’ electricity, possible ways were investigated and implemented to improve and optimise the energy consumption and to reduce the costs. Implementing DSM and EE in four different mines resulted in achieving the desired energy savings and load-shifting.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naim Jabbour

Data shows residential energy consumption constituting a significant portion of the overall energy end use in the European Union (EU), ranging between 15% and 30%. Furthermore, the EU’s dependency on foreign fossil fuel-based energy imports has been steadily increasing since 1993, constituting approximately 60% of its primary energy. This paper provides an analytical re-view of diverse residential building/energy policies in targeted EU countries, to shed insight on the impact of such policies and measures on energy use and efficiency trends. Accordingly, the adoption of robust residential green and energy efficient building policies in the EU has increased in the past decade. Moreover, data from EU energy efficiency and consumption databases attributes 44% of total energy savings since 2000 to energy upgrades and improvements within the residential sector. Consequently, many EU countries and organizations are continuously evaluating residential building energy consumption patterns to increase the sec-tor’s overall energy performance. To that end, energy efficiency gains in EU households were measured at 1% in 2000 compared to 27.8% in 2016, a 2600% increase. Accordingly, 36 policies have been implemented successfully since 1991 across the EU targeting improvements in residential energy efficiency and reductions in energy use. Moreover, the adoption of National Energy Efficiency Actions Plans (NEEACP) across the EU have been a major driver of energy savings and energy efficiency. Most energy efficiency plans have followed a holistic multi-dimensional approach targeting the following areas, legislative actions, financial incentives, fiscal tax exemptions, and public education and awareness programs and campaigns. These measures and policy instruments have cumulatively generated significant energy savings and measurable improvements in energy performance across the EU since their inception. As a result, EU residential energy consumption trends show a consistent decrease over the past decade. The purpose of this analysis is to explore, examine, and compare the various green building and energy-related policies in the EU, highlighting some of the more robust and progressive aspects of such policies. The paper will also analyze the multiple policies and guidelines across targeted European nations. Lastly, the study will assess the status of green residential building policies in Lebanon, drawing from the comprehensive European measures, in order to recommend a comprehensive set of guidelines to advance energy policies and building practices in the country. Keywords: Building Policies; Residential Energy Patterns; Residential Energy Consumption; Energy Savings


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