Optimal building retrofit pathways considering residential energy use variability: A case study of Nanjing city

Abstract

The variation in energy usage patterns among occupants elucidates the disparity between projected and realized energy consumption following physical retrofitting, and serves as a significant determinant in the context of extensive building retrofit initiatives. This study involves the establishment of four representative building models in regions characterized by hot summers and cold winters. The study examines the diverse energy consumption patterns exhibited by occupants, and subsequently explores the potential strategies for implementing large-scale energy-efficient renovations in the hot summer and cold winter zones. The findings indicate that there is a prevalent occurrence of excessive energy consumption. Moreover, the energy usage patterns exhibited by occupants have a substantial influence on the overall energy consumption of buildings. The implementation of graded and progressive stepped-step electricity pricing should be prioritized during both summer and winter seasons. This entails appropriately increasing the price of stepped-step power tariffs and reducing the proportion of residents who consume excessive energy. Undoubtedly, the most successful large-scale retrofit scheme for hot summer and cold winter areas is the replacement of all air conditioning equipment in the existing residential areas, under the premise of adopting the seasonal progressive incremental ladder energy pricing.