Development of a home energy audit methodology for determining energy-efficient, cost-effective measures in existing single-family houses using an easy-to-use simulation

Abstract

This study developed a home energy audit methodology for determining energy-efficient, cost-effective measures in existing single-family houses using an easy-to-use simulation. The overall goal of this study was to provide an easy-to-use, time-saving home energy audit for users who are not familiar with building physics and building energy simulation programs such as homeowners, etc. The methodology that was developed can identify the cause of over-consumption in a house prior to a walk-through investigation by showing where the energy is inefficiently being used when compared to houses of similar sizes in similar climates. In order to accomplish this, a methodology for an easy-to-use, calibrated simulation that can determine potential energy conservation measures for existing single-family houses was developed. In addition, to verify the methodology, the results were compared to those obtained from a detailed, as-built residential energy simulation to determine if both the simulation results identified the same potential energy conservation measures. As a result, it was found that the easy-to-use simulation can be used as an as-built simulation for a home energy audit procedure with acceptable results for the case-study house.