scholarly journals Reducing Peak Energy Demand among Residents Who Are Not Billed for Their Electricity Consumption: Experimental Evaluation of Behaviour Change Interventions in a University Setting

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8406
Author(s):  
Bradley S. Jorgensen ◽  
Sarah Fumei ◽  
Graeme Byrne
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Peak Demand ◽  
Behaviour Change Interventions ◽  
Peak Energy

Behaviour change interventions aiming to reduce household energy consumption are regarded as an effective means to address disparities between demand and supply and reduce emissions. Less recognised is their success in shifting consumers’ energy consumption from peak demand periods to off-peak times of the day. This study reports two experiments that test the effect of feedback and reminder notifications on energy consumption in university halls-of-residence. A quasi-experiment and a randomised controlled experiment were conducted with residential students to evaluate behaviour change interventions aimed at reducing daily peak and critical peak demand, respectively. The results of Experiment One (n = 143) demonstrated significant reductions in the energy use of the treatment group relative to the control. On average, the treatment group’s energy use was 12.4 per cent lower than their pre-intervention baseline. In Experiment Two (n = 88), normative elements of the intervention were supplemented with a reminder notification prior to the onset of the simulated critical peak demand period. The results showed that, relative to the control condition, the 8-h notification reduced demand by 20% on average with a 12% decrease for the 24-h notification (with 2-h follow-up). These results indicate that peak energy issues can be alleviated using low-cost and easily implemented behaviour change strategies.

Action for increasing energy-saving behaviour in student residences at Rhodes University, South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 773-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Ancha Lindelwa Bulunga ◽  
Gladman Thondhlana
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Environmental Behaviour ◽  
Content Type

Purpose In response to increasing energy demand and financial constraints to invest in green infrastructure, behaviour change energy-saving interventions are increasingly being considered as a tool for encouraging pro-environmental behaviour in campus residences. This paper aims to report on a pilot programme aimed at reducing energy consumption via behaviour change interventions, variably applied in residences at Rhodes University, South Africa. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected via structured questionnaires, energy consumption records and post-intervention programme focus group discussions. Findings Participant residences that received a mix of different interventions in the forms of pamphlets, face-to-face discussions, incentives and feedback recorded more energy reductions of up to 9 per cent than residences that received a single or no intervention. In post-experiment discussions, students cited personal, institutional and structural barriers to pro-environmental energy-use behaviour. Practical implications Overall, the results of this study suggest that information provision of energy-saving tips combined with regular feedback and incentives can result in energy-use reductions in university residences, which may yield environmental and economic benefits for universities, but addressing barriers to pro-environmental behaviour might maximise the results. Originality/value Given the lack of literature on energy conservation in the global South universities, this study provides the basis for discussing the potential for using behavioural interventions in universities for stirring pathways towards sustainability.

scholarly journals Investigating Primary Factors Affecting Electricity Consumption in Non-Residential Buildings Using a Data-Driven Approach

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 4046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sooyoun Cho ◽  
Jeehang Lee ◽  
Jumi Baek ◽  
Gi-Seok Kim ◽  
Seung-Bok Leigh
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Simulation Analysis ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Electric Energy ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Building Energy ◽  
Major Effect ◽  
Measuring Instruments ◽  
Building Energy Consumption

Although the latest energy-efficient buildings use a large number of sensors and measuring instruments to predict consumption more accurately, it is generally not possible to identify which data are the most valuable or key for analysis among the tens of thousands of data points. This study selected the electric energy as a subset of total building energy consumption because it accounts for more than 65% of the total building energy consumption, and identified the variables that contribute to electric energy use. However, this study aimed to confirm data from a building using clustering in machine learning, instead of a calculation method from engineering simulation, to examine the variables that were identified and determine whether these variables had a strong correlation with energy consumption. Three different methods confirmed that the major variables related to electric energy consumption were significant. This research has significance because it was able to identify the factors in electric energy, accounting for more than half of the total building energy consumption, that had a major effect on energy consumption and revealed that these key variables alone, not the default values of many different items in simulation analysis, can ensure the reliable prediction of energy consumption.

Impact of urbanization on per capita energy use and emissions in India

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuti Haldar ◽  
Gautam Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Energy Intensity ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Per Capita

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the impacts of urbanization on per capita energy consumption and emissions in India. Design/methodology/approach The present study analyses the effects of urbanization on energy consumption patterns by using the Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology in India. Time series data from the period of 1960 to 2015 has been considered for the analysis. Variables including Population, GDP per capita, Energy intensity, share of industry in GDP, share of Services in GDP, total energy use and urbanization from World Bank data sources have been used for investigating the relationship between urbanization, affluence and energy use. Findings Energy demand is positively related to affluence (economic growth). Further the results of the analysis also suggest that, as urbanization, GDP and population are bound to increase in the future, consequently resulting in increased carbon dioxide emissions caused by increased energy demand and consumption. Thus, reducing the energy intensity is key to energy security and lower carbon dioxide emissions for India. Research limitations/implications The study will have important policy implications for India’s energy sector transition toward non- conventional, clean energy sources in the wake of growing share of its population residing in urban spaces. Originality/value There are limited number of studies considering the impacts of population density on per capita energy use. So this study also contributes methodologically by establishing per capita energy use as a function of population density and technology (i.e. growth rates of industrial and service sector).

scholarly journals Analysis of Energy System in Norway with Focus on Energy Consumption Prediction

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Hamlehdar ◽  
Alireza Aslani
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Energy System ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Regression Result ◽  
Industry Growth ◽  
The Status

Abstract Today, the fossil fuels have dominant share of energy supply in order to respond to the high energy demand in the world. Norway is one of the countries with rich sources of fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. The current work is to investigate on the status of energy demand in Norway. First, energy and electricity consumption in various sectors, including industrial, residential are calculated. Then, energy demand in Norway is forecasted by using available tools. After that, the relationship between energy consumption in Norway with Basic economics parameters such as GDP, population and industry growth rate has determined by using linear regression model. Finally, the regression result shows a low correlation between variables.

Modelling of energy consumption in sociotechnical systems with intelligent equipment

2021 ◽  
pp. 4-19
Author(s):  
Владимир Борисович Барахнин ◽  
Светлана Валентиновна Мальцева ◽  
Константин Владимирович Данилов ◽  
Василий Вячеславович Корнилов
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Feedback Mechanism ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
Consumption Function ◽  
Management Processes ◽  
Consumption Data ◽  
The Times ◽  
Dynamic Time

Современные социотехнические системы в различных областях характеризуются наличием в их составе большого количества интеллектуального оборудования, которое может самостоятельно регулировать собственное потребление энергии, а также взаимодействовать с другими потребителями в процессах принятия решений и управления. Одна из таких отраслей - энергетика, где самоорганизация и системы коллективного потребления являются наиболее перспективными с точки зрения обеспечения эффективности использования энергоресурсов. Рассмотрены подходы к установлению статических и динамических тарифов на электроэнергию. Проведено сравнение двух моделей энергопотребления - статического двухтарифного и динамического, учитывающих рациональное поведение умных устройств, способных выбирать лучшие режимы для потребления электроэнергии. Показано влияние количества таких устройств на возможность достижения равномерного потребления при использовании второй модели. Modern socio-technical systems in various fields include a large number of smart equipment that can independently regulate its own energy consumption, as well as interact with other consumers in decision-making and management processes. Energy is one of these areas. Self-organization and collective self-consumption are the most promising in terms of ensuring the efficiency of energy use. Existing and prospective approaches to using static and dynamic time-based tariffs are under consideration. The paper presents a mathematical description of two models of energy consumption: a static model based on the allocation of two zones with a fixed duration and tariffs for each one and a dynamic model of two-tariff accounting with feedback, which assumes tariffs changing based on the results of the analysis of current electricity consumption. A pilot study of both models was conducted by using energy consumption data and taking into account the rational behavior of smart devices as consumers who can choose the best periods for electricity consumption. During the experiments it was investigated how an increase in the share of smart devices in the composition of electricity consumers as well as options for establishing zones and tariffs, affect the possibility of achieving uniform consumption during the day. Experiments have shown that with a small proportion of smart devices, acceptable results that reduce the variation in the consumption function can favor usage of the model without feedback. An increase in the number of actors in the system inevitably requires including a feedback mechanism into the system that allows the resource supplier to prevent excessive concentration of smart devices during the period of the cheaper tariff. However, when the share of smart devices exceeds a certain critical value, a pronounced inversion of the times of cheap and expensive tariffs occurs in two successive iterations. In this case, in order to ensure a quite even distribution of electricity consumption, it is advisable for the supplier to return to the single tariff rate. Thus, an excessive increase in the number of actors in the system can neutralize the effect of their use

Energy and Economic Analysis for Greenhouse Envelope Design

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 1795-1810
Author(s):  
James Bambara ◽  
Andreas K. Athienitis
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
The North ◽  
North Wall

Abstract. The energy consumption of a building is significantly impacted by its envelope design, particularly for greenhouses where coverings typically provide high heat and daylight transmission. Energy and life cycle cost (LCC) analysis were used to identify the most cost-effective cladding design for a greenhouse located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (45.4° N) that employs supplemental lighting. The base case envelope design uses single glazing, whereas the two alternative designs consist of replacing the glass with twin-wall polycarbonate and adding foil-faced rigid insulation (permanent or movable) on the interior surface of the glass. All the alternative envelope designs increased electricity consumption for lighting and decreased heating energy use except when permanent or movable insulation was applied to the north wall and in the case of permanent insulation on the north wall plus polycarbonate on the east wall. This demonstrates how the use of reflective opaque insulation on the north wall can be beneficial for redirecting light onto the crops to achieve simultaneous reductions in electricity and heating energy costs. A maximum reduction in LCC of 5.5% (net savings of approximately $130,000) was achieved when permanent insulation was applied to the north and east walls plus polycarbonate on the west wall. This alternative envelope design increased electricity consumption for horticultural lighting by 4.3%, reduced heating energy use by 15.6%, and caused greenhouse gas emissions related to energy consumption to decrease by 14.7%. This analysis demonstrates how energy and economic analysis can be employed to determine the most suitable envelope design based on local climate and economic conditions. Keywords: Artificial lighting, Consistent daily light integral, Energy modeling, Envelope design, Greenhouse, Life cycle cost analysis, Light emitting diode, Local agriculture.

scholarly journals Sympathy for the environment predicts green consumerism but not more important environmental behaviours related to domestic energy use

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
XIAODONG CHEN ◽  
JENNIFER DE LA ROSA ◽  
M. NILS PETERSON ◽  
YING ZHONG ◽  
CHUNTIAN LU
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Environmental Attitudes ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Structural Constraints ◽  
Household Energy ◽  
Green Consumerism ◽  
Domestic Energy

SUMMARYHousehold consumption is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. Some behaviours (for example energy use and vehicle use) may have far larger impacts than others (for example green consumerism of household products). Here, the driving forces of green consumerism and two domestic energy uses (electricity consumption and vehicle fuel use) are compared. This study found that environmental attitudes predicted green consumerism, but not electricity consumption or vehicle fuel use. Furthermore, green consumerism was correlated with income and individual level demographic factors, while energy consumption was primarily predicted by household size and structural constraints. Because household energy consumption has greater environmental impacts than green consumerism, policies that aim to improve pro-environmental attitudes may not be effective in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Policies should rather aim to change structural constraints influencing transportation and household energy decisions and improve the conspicuousness of household energy consumption.

scholarly journals Energy Use Efficiency Past-to-Future Evaluation: An International Comparison

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 3804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Nan Wang ◽  
Thi-Duong Nguyen ◽  
Min-Chun Yu
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
The United States ◽  
Total Energy Consumption ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Status ◽  
Energy Efficiency Evaluation

Despite the many benefits that energy consumption brings to the economy, consuming energy also leads nations to expend more resources on environmental pollution. Therefore, energy efficiency has been proposed as a solution to improve national economic competitiveness and sustainability. However, the growth in energy demand is accelerating while policy efforts to boost energy efficiency are slowing. To solve this problem, the efficiency gains in countries where energy consumption efficiency is of the greatest concern such as China, India, the United States, and Europe, especially, emerging economies, is central. Additionally, governments must take greater policy actions. Therefore, this paper studied 25 countries from Asia, the Americas, and Europe to develop a method combining the grey method (GM) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) slack-based measure model (SMB) to measure and forecast the energy efficiency, so that detailed energy efficiency evaluation can be made from the past to the future; moreover, this method can be extended to more countries around the world. The results of this study reveal that European countries have a higher energy efficiency than countries in Americas (except the United States) and Asian countries. Our findings also show that an excess of total energy consumption is the main reason causing the energy inefficiency in most countries. This study contributes to policymaking and strategy makers by sharing the understanding of the status of energy efficiency and providing insights for the future.

Energy Consumption, Carbon Emission, and Well-Being in Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-318
Author(s):  
Ebenezer Adesoji Olubiyi
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Infant Mortality ◽  
Carbon Emission ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Infant Mortality Rate ◽  
Coal Consumption ◽  
Human Welfare

The link among energy use, human welfare, and carbon emission has been a topical issue in the literature. In Africa, energy consumption has been on the increase owing to the production and consumption of sophisticated consumer goods and home appliances. Increased energy use triggers carbon emission that is detrimental to human welfare. This study investigates this puzzle in emerging African countries by utilizing panel vector autoregressive and system generalized method of moments (SYS-GMM) in the context of a mix of theories. The results indicate a unidirectional causality running from FUEL, COAL to per capita income (PCI). A unidirectional causality running from mortality rate (MOR) to COAL and CO2 was observed. There is a bidirectional relationship between MOR and energy use. The SYS-GMM results show that the effects of energy consumption on well-being are diverse. Increase in coal consumption reduces unemployment rate while electricity consumption reduces infant mortality rate. Fuel consumption aggravates incidence of mortality rate. CO2 reduces unemployment but worsens infant mortality rate. Electricity consumption reduces infant mortality rate. Hence, for the purpose of policy harmonization tailored toward improving well-being in the emerging economies of Africa, it is recommended that more of coal consumption and efficient use of electricity must be encouraged.

Research of Contradiction between Energy Use and Industrial Development of Underdeveloped Regions in Northwest - Yinchuan City in Ningxia Autonomous Region as an Example

2014 ◽  
Vol 522-524 ◽  
pp. 1670-1674
Author(s):  
Qian Dong
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Energy Industry ◽  
Ecological Environment ◽  
Great Pressure ◽  
Good Energy ◽  
Industry Planning

Industrialization brings great pressure to the construction of urban ecological environment. Yinchuan of Ningxia, located in the northwest economic underdeveloped regions, has good energy supply conditions. Unreasonable energy consumption structure and energy utilization way leads to massive energy consumption. Give some prediction for the possible future energy demand mode, and give suggestion on aspects of the urban heating and the development of energy industry planning.

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