Effects Of Energy Efficiency Measures Research Articles

Improvement energy performance for GHG mitigation - a case of FPSO vessel platform in Oil & Gas offshore production

This study offers an in-depth review of specific facets of the oil and gas industry, emphasizing the role of Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. It delves into diverse topics, highlighting potential opportunities, a solid research methodology for emissions quantification, and the pivotal challenge of reducing GHG emissions. Among the multitude of opportunities analyzed within the industry's value chain, the upstream sector - encompassing both exploration and production of oil and natural gas - receives considerable focus. This sector can be further divided into key segments characterized by high energy consumption and consequent significant emissions. Notably, the combustion of natural gas for power generation stands out, contributing a substantial 68% of CO2 emissions at related facilities. This process is a primary target for mitigation and energy efficiency enhancements. The intricate interplay between energy generation and CO2 emissions stands at the forefront of current research, emphasizing the need for improving vessel energy efficiency. This paper employs a case-based methodology, evaluating the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures within an FPSO setting and their resulting impact on GHG emissions. Central to this inquiry is a detailed examination of the FPSO Fluminense, strategically located within Brazil's Campos Basin, with the study meticulously examining the relationship between advancements in energy efficiency and emission reductions. While translating these insights into practical applications poses challenges, the momentum generated by rigorous research, combined with policy recommendations addressing GHG emissions in the oil sector, can indeed chart a path toward a more robust, sustainable, and integrated energy future.

Assessing the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures in the residential sector gas consumption through dynamic treatment effects: Evidence from England and Wales

Improving energy efficiency (EE) is vital to ensure a sustainable, affordable, and secure energy system. The residential sector represents, on average, 18.6% of the total final energy consumption in the OECD countries in 2018, reaching 29.5% in the UK (IEA, 2020a). Using a staggered differences-in-differences approach with dynamic treatment effects, we analyse changes in residential gas consumption five years before and after the adoption of energy efficiency measures. The analysis includes energy efficiency interventions involving the installation of new heating-related insulation equipment—i.e., of loft insulation and cavity walls, supported by energy efficiency programmes in England and Wales between 2005 and 2017—using a panel of 55,154 households from the National Energy Efficiency Data-Framework (NEED). We control for, among other factors, energy prices and the extent to which gas consumption changes are dependent on household characteristics and variations in weather conditions. Our results indicate that the adoption of EE measures is associated with significant reductions in household residential gas consumption one year after their implementation. However, the effect does not last in the long run and energy savings disappear four years after the retrofitting of cavity wall insulation measures and after two years following the installation of loft insulation. The disappearance of energy savings in the longer run could be explained by the energy performance gap, the rebound effect and/or by concurrent residential construction projects and renovations associated with increases in energy consumption. Notably, for households in deprived areas, the installation of these efficiency measures does not deliver energy savings. These results confirm the existence of effects that reduce the energy savings from the adoption of these efficiency technologies over time and indicates that, for some groups, these net savings do not seem to materialize.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Energy Efficiency Measures in the Residential Sector Gas Consumption Through Dynamic Treatment Effects: Evidence from England and Wales

Assessing the Effectiveness of Energy Efficiency Measures in the Residential Sector Gas Consumption Through Dynamic Treatment Effects: Evidence from England and Wales

Assessing the impact of energy efficiency measures on load diagram shape\u2014a case study in the Portuguese residential sector

This paper intends to address the effect of energy efficiency and load management measures on load diagrams. In order to assess this specific impact, diagrams of load variations caused by energy efficiency measures are proposed. A case study is used to illustrate the effects of energy efficiency measures implemented under the Portuguese plan for the promotion of efficient electricity use (PPEC). The diagrams of load variations were estimated for measures targeting the residential sector which were approved in the six PPEC editions launched until presently. The measures were grouped according to the targeted energy service. The results of this case study indicate that energy distribution operators can change their load diagram by implementing energy efficiency measures in consumer dwellings, with demand reduction at critical periods. It is shown that energy efficiency in lighting measures can help smoothen the evening demand peak at 10 p.m. On the other hand, the effect of hot water measures, although beneficial in terms of energy saving, may increase the negative power gradient occurring at 9 a.m. due to photovoltaic generation under clear sky conditions. Diagrams of load variations can help to estimate the impact of energy efficiency measures on the network load diagram and can give important information for decision support to the distribution system operator, the utilities, and the energy regulator.

Effects of Energy Efficiency Measures in the Beef Cold Chain: A Life Cycle-based Study

Abstract Circular economy and industrial symbiosis represent a production and consumption model involving sharing, lending, reusing, and recycling existing materials and products in the most efficient way to increase sustainability and reduce or eliminate waste. Beef production has a high impact on the environment in different impact categories, especially those activities related to livestock breeding and feeding. In this study, a life cycle assessment and a life cycle cost evaluation are carried out investigating potential energy efficiency measures to promote industrial symbiosis scenarios referring to a proposed baseline scenario. Three main potential measures are evaluated: energy recovery from waste via anaerobic digestion, integration of renewable sources at warehouses, including solar PV panels, and the replacement of auxiliary equipment at the retailer. It was found that energy reconversion of food waste through anaerobic digestion and cogeneration provides the most valuable benefits to the supply chain. From the economic perspective, using a conventional life cycle cost assessment, the energy production from the use of wastes for anaerobic digestion proved to be the best potential option.

Future energy pathways for a university campus considering possibilities for energy efficiency improvements

The study aimed to show in a systematic way possible energy efficiency measures that would decrease the total energy use at the university campus in Trondheim, Norway. The entire study was developed in close collaboration with the NTNU Property and Technical Management divisions, meaning that suggested energy efficiency scenarios and other assumptions were highly relevant. Currently, the campus floor area is about 300 000 m2 and consists of buildings combining offices, lecturing halls, study halls, and laboratories. The campus building stock has been built from 1910 to 2002. To perform this study, building performance simulation and the dynamic segmented modeling were combined. A dynamic neighborhood building stock model was utilized to aggregate the outputs from the building simulation and evaluate global effects of energy efficiency measures. Reference building models for each university cohort were developed based on the methodology for defining the reference buildings. The results of the single reference building analyses showed that a decrease of up to 50% in heating energy use might be achieved by increasing efficiency of the ventilation system and by decreasing the temperature of the heating system. The results showed that in spite of building stock growth, the estimated energy use would decrease from 2017 to 2050 by 10% for the standard renovation, and by 26% for the combination of ambitious renovation and technical improvements.

A design approach towards sustainable buildings in Algeria

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to achieve the national strategic agenda’s criteria that aim for accomplishing sustainable buildings by estimating the effects of energy efficiency measures in order to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emission.Design/methodology/approachA design approach has been developed based on simulation software and a modeled building. Therefore, a typical office building is considered for testing five efficiency measures in three climatic conditions in Algeria. This approach is conducted in two phases: first, the analysis of each measure’s effect is independently carried out in terms of cooling energy and heating energy intensities. Then, a combination of optimal measures for each climate zone is measured in terms of three sustainable indicators: final energy consumption, energy cost saving and CO2 emission.FindingsThe results reveal that a combination of optimal measures has a substantial impact on building energy saving and CO2 emission. This saving can rise to 41 and 31 percent in a hot and cold climate, respectively. Furthermore, it is concluded that obtaining higher building performance, different design alternatives should be adapted to the climate proprieties and the local construction materials must be applied.Originality/valueThis study is considered as an opportunity for achieving the national strategy, as it may contribute in improving office building performance and demonstrating a suitable tool to assist stakeholders in the decision making of most important parameters in the design stage for new or retrofit buildings.

Effects of energy efficiency measures on building performance: an analysis in seven European cities

This work presents the energy performance analysis of an autarkic residential building, located in the suburb of L’Aquila, in central Italy. The analysis is performed via a calibrated dynamic thermal model, carried out with EnergyPlusTM engine coupled with DesignBuilder. The aim of this study is the further understanding of the optimization margins of the energy self-sufficient building by considering different Energy Efficiency Measures and the effects obtainable in different climatic conditions. Four Italian cities and three European capitals are considered, in addition to different scenarios, characterized by various technological plants. In fact, a significant difference between the high efficiency of the envelope, and the poor performance of the heating system was observed. The results highlighted the remarkable energy performance optimization of the analyzed building, although the effects of the Energy Efficiency Measures showed notable differences between colder and warmer climates.

Is decoupling a red herring? The role of structural effects and energy policies in Europe

Decoupling energy consumption and carbon emissions from economic growth is at the core of the climate change debate: successful decoupling is evidence that efficiency measures can be economically sustainable. In this article, the authors analyze the underlying nature of this decoupling in the European Union from 1990 to 2014. The objective is to quantify the role of structural changes and the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures in lowering energy consumption. We decompose final energy consumption per sector, including households and transportation into three key drivers: economic growth, economic structure and energy intensity. Our results show that a significant part of the reduction in energy consumption can be attributed to structural changes, such as deindustrialization, while an equally significant part can be attributed to energy efficiency. This further corroborates the idea that much of the observed decoupling is virtual; largely due to outsourcing of energy intensive activities. Energy is then imported in the form of embodied energy in goods and services. The dynamics of these effects suggest that a shift in our understanding of decoupling is necessary. The implementation of effective energy efficiency policies, accounting for embodied energy, remain of high priority.

Applying Energy Building Simulation in the Assessment of Energy Efficiency Measures in Factories

Manufacturing companies have been putting considerable effort in the implementation of energy efficiency measures since many years. By doing so they have been able to reduce energy consumption and increase productivity pursuing sustainable manufacturing practices. However, it has become more and more challenging to identify future energy efficiency measures, which meet the required cost-benefit ratio. The objective of this research is to improve prevailing methodologies used in the assessment of energy efficiency measures. Therefore we augment the system boundaries to the factory level and introduce a methodology that involves energy building simulation. Results show that the methodology proposed herein allows to quantify the propagating effects of singular energy efficiency measures within the factory environment. Besides, the consideration of non-energy benefits (e.g. thermal comfort) becomes possible. Being able to assess the multiple effects of energy efficiency measures is an important step towards the continuous improvement of energy efficiency in factories.

Effects of energy efficiency measures in district-heated buildings on energy supply

Abstract In this study we estimate the final and primary energy savings for different energy efficiency measures in a multi-apartment building when heated by small-, medium- or large-scale district-heat production systems (DHSs). The small-scale system is based on heat-only boilers, whereas the other two also include cogeneration of district heat and electricity. In the systems with cogeneration units, a change in building's heat demand may influence cogenerated electricity and hence the overall power system. For the building analyzed, the estimated annual total final heat and electricity savings were 136 (54%) and 30 MWh (52%), respectively, giving total annual primary energy savings of 177–289 MWh. This varies as the ratio of primary and final heat savings depends on the type of energy efficiency measure and the energy supply. For the same heat savings measure, a system with a heat-only boiler gave the highest primary energy savings, whereas a system based mostly on cogeneration of district heat and electricity in combination with averaged-efficiency standalone power plants gave the lowest primary energy savings. When the energy supply is based on energy-efficient renewable-based system, the differences in primary energy savings between large- and small-scale DHSs are minor for the same energy efficiency measure.

An Analysis of the Cost Effectiveness for Energy Efficiency Technology in Thailand Pulp and Paper Industry

Green Energy efficiency is becoming more important because of the resulting cost reduction and image of green society which helps to enhance competitiveness in a globalized green market. Pulp and paper manufacturing is a large-scale industry which is generally regarded as important for national development. The Pulp and Paper industry consumes approximately 2.5% of total industrial energy consumption in Thailand by 44 factories distributed throughout the country. Therefore, energy efficiency improvement can play a significant role in the industry. Investigations of the cost effectiveness of energy efficiency measures and technologies using bottom-up Conservation Supply Curve (CSC) in the pulp and paper mill process are required. This study examines the concept, methodology, and the usefulness of the energy conservation supply curve, and the potential to create the appropriate energy policies to the Thai Pulp and Paper Industry.

Implications of customer value perceptions for the design of electricity efficiency services in times of smart metering

Smart meters are the backbone of modern electricity metering and an important enabler of reaching energy efficiency targets. The implementation of new metering infrastructure is, however, making little progress and is often focused on technical aspects only. Additionally, existing smart metering information systems do not yet exploit the possibilities to optimally support customers in their electricity savings activities. Knowing customer preferences is absolutely essential for the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures and, as a consequence, for realizing the economic value of smart metering technology. The presented research contributes to the field by identifying customer value perceptions concerning new smart meter services in the retail electricity market in Switzerland. Founded on a choice-based conjoint analysis with a data sample of more than 1500 respondents from three Swiss regions, five customer segments with different preferences are identified. With the exception of the comfort-oriented customer segment, the other four segments are comprised of customers who are willing (1) to pay for smart meter services and (2) to change their behavior to save electricity. Based on the identified customer value perceptions, implications for the design of smart meter-based energy efficiency services are elaborated.

Energy retrofit of the Krsan Castle: From sustainable to responsible design—A case study

This paper studies the effects of energy efficiency measures on energy demand in the Krsan Castle, which is a cultural heritage complex in Istria (Croatia). The heating and cooling energy demand is calculated by means of a dynamic building energy model based on hourly weather data. The largest individual reductions are obtained with thermal insulation for the heating demand, and with external window shading and natural night ventilation for the cooling demand. Energy reductions of up to 80%, relatively to the existing state, can be achieved by energy retrofit projects which include thermal insulation, energy efficient windows, improved airtightness, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and passive cooling techniques. The economic analysis revealed that payback periods between 10 and 16 years can be achieved by this kind of energy retrofit projects.

Design of a methodology for impact assessment of energy efficiency programs: measuring indirect effects in the Chilean case

Today, many countries are promoting energy efficiency (EE) measures as part of their energy strategy. Among the goals sought with these actions are producing a decoupling between economic growth and energy consumption, reducing the dependence on fossil fuels as a primary energy source, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Measuring direct, indirect, and co-benefit effects of EE programs is crucial. However, in the current literature and practice, assessments of EE programs have focused on direct impacts (i.e., impacts whose energy savings can be directly and instantaneously quantified) due to their objectivity and simplicity to put evaluations in a cost-effectiveness framework. Moreover, several assessment methodologies studying the indirect effects of EE programs only focus on identifying the effects and quantifying a proxy of the effects in terms of the number of activities developed or the number of people attending EE training or dissemination events. Some few existing methodologies correctly assess the indirect effects of EE measures, but they often require a significant budget. We propose a new methodology to assess the impacts of EE programs, especially focusing on indirect effects (i.e., long-term effects on energy use), that is suitable for low-budget programs. We focus on those indirect effects having the capability of mobilizing long-term energy savings through transformations in energy markets. We attempt to measure the potential future energy savings that are sustainable in the long term due to a behavioral transformation of energy markets. In order to measure these indirect effects, we use three axes: presence, valuation, and mobilizing capacity. This methodology was applied to 12 EE programs (implemented during 2011 and 2012 in Chile) in order to obtain their indirect impact assessment.

Energy Consumption and Environmental Impact Assessment of the Energy Efficient Houses in Toronto, Canada

The two identical energy efficient houses, “Energy Star” House (EH) and “Green” House (GH), located in Ontario were chosen to investigate the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures in dwellings. EH was built based on the Energy Star standard while GH had a number of additional energy savings and sustainable green features. Both houses’ energy consumption were simulated and their utility bills weather normalized by using HOT2000 building energy simulation software and Princeton Scorekeeping Method (PRISM). Although GH was expected to consume less energy than EH, considering GH's more energy efficient mechanical system and building envelope, this study showed that EH consumed less energy than GH (annual energy consumption of EH is 44% less than GH). Further investigation on occupants’ behavior and usage of the both houses using a survey showed clearly that having energy efficient systems do not necessarily lead to lower energy consumption.

Combined effect of energy efficiency measures and thermal adaptation on air conditioned building in warm climatic conditions of India

This study evaluates improvement in energy efficiency of an air conditioned building block employing energy conservation measures (ECMs) recommended by Indian Energy Conservation Building Code 2007 (ECBC) through a prescriptive route. First part evaluates energy savings by implementing five ECMs of envelope independently and two combinations of ECMs keeping constant thermostat setting throughout the year. In the second part of the study same ECMs are considered to the subject building model allowing thermostat settings as per thermal adaptation resulting from change in outdoor temperature. Actual measurements were taken and simulation model was fine-tuned. Annual energy consumption of building is used to evaluate the effect of individual ECMs and their combinations on both part of the study, i.e. fixed thermostat and adaptive thermostat settings. The simulation result shows that together with combination of all ECMs recommended by ECBC, small buildings can save up to 40% energy consumption as compared to buildings built with conventionally practised specifications of India. Effect of thermal adaptation itself offers up to 16% energy saving opportunity in small buildings considering adaptive thermostat settings. The potential of energy conservation through ECMs suggested by ECBC and adaptive set point gets significantly reduced for large size buildings having high internal heat gains.

A STUDY OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY RENOVATION ON PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS

While the energy efficiency of commercial buildings, schools, and private homes has received increasing attention, the energy performance of public housing has long been neglected. The high energy usage and resulting utility costs associated with such subsidized houses have added great financial burdens to the government and tenants. Therefore, improving public housing's energy performance becomes an important task. This paper presents a comparative study that mainly investigates the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures (EEMs) recently implemented in the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority's green renovation projects. Whole building energy simulation results show that due to budget constraints, the limited EEMs put into place would only result in a marginal (7.6%) improvement to the renovated building's energy performance prior to renovation. Another 38.5% reduction would be needed, using the performance requirement of the current building energy code as a reference. Based on these findings, this research offers some insights into more cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades that can help reduce public housing's energy consumption and green renovation costs.

Modelling building stock geometry for energy, emission and mass calculations

The effect of energy efficiency measures is generally evaluated for one or only a few houses. While the energy and environmental optimization of a particular building design is crucial, this cannot easily draw generic conclusions for future building designs. A method is presented for considering the effect of building geometry in simplified energy and life cycle assessment studies. Based on architectural and functional considerations, realistic ranges were determined for the parameters describing the geometry of ‘technically feasible’ buildings and their relationships. These parameters include floor area, the number of storeys, the perimeter-to-floor area ratio, the ratio of the building envelope adjoining neighbouring heated buildings, the window ratio and frame factor, the density of partition walls, and the roof slope. An algorithm is developed for the random generation of a large building sample based on the realistic ranges of these geometric parameters. By analysing the results, it is possible to calculate the expected value, standard deviation and confidence interval of the sample. The application of the method is shown in an example. The cumulative non-renewable energy demand is calculated for the whole life cycle and for different building types. On évalue généralement l'effet des mesures de l'efficacité énergétique sur une ou seulement quelques habitations. Alors que l'optimisation énergétique et environnementale d'un modèle de bâtiment particulier est essentielle, elle ne permet pas de tirer facilement des conclusions génériques pour les futurs concepts de bâtiments. Cet article présente une méthode qui permet de prendre en considération l'effet de la géométrie d'un bâtiment dans des études d'évaluation simplifiées de l'énergie et du cycle de vie. En s'appuyant sur des considérations architecturales et fonctionnelles, on a défini des plages réalistes pour les paramètres décrivant la géométrie de bâtiments « réalisables sur le plan technique » et leurs relations. Ces paramètres incluent la surface au sol, le nombre de niveaux, le ratio entre le périmètre et la surface au sol, le ratio de l'enveloppe de bâtiments chauffés se trouvant à proximité, le ratio des fenêtres et le facteur de châssis, la densité des cloisons et la pente du toit. Un algorithme a été calculé pour la génération d'un grand échantillon aléatoire de bâtiments basé sur des plages réalistes de ces paramètres géométriques. En analysant les résultats, on peut calculer les valeurs escomptées, les écarts standard et l'intervalle de confiance de l'échantillon. L'application de cette méthode est décrite au moyen d'un exemple. La demande cumulée en énergie non renouvelable est calculée pour l'ensemble du cycle de vie et pour différents types de bâtiments. Mots clés: géométrie des bâtiments, morphologie des bâtiments, parc bâti, efficacité énergétique, évaluation du cycle de vie, bâtiments résidentiels, Hongrie

06/01996 The impact of energy externalities on the cost effectiveness of energy efficiency measures applied to dwellings: Gaterell, M. R. and McEvoy, M. E. Energy and Buildings, 2005, 37, (10), 1017–1027

06/01996 The impact of energy externalities on the cost effectiveness of energy efficiency measures applied to dwellings: Gaterell, M. R. and McEvoy, M. E. Energy and Buildings, 2005, 37, (10), 1017–1027