Energy Awareness Research Articles

Characteristics of household energy consumption in the shadow of the Russia-Ukraine war - a case study from Hungary

This study aims to identify the factors affecting household energy consumption by applying spatial econometric models. Our findings suggest that sharp energy price growth is followed by significant reductions in household energy consumption, but it is difficult to distinguish specific consumer groups. Weather conditions are of particular importance (compared to the EU average). The results highlight two things: a) the problem of obsolete housing stock and the need for energy efficiency improvements and b) low energy awareness of households, especially before the energy crisis. Furthermore, hotspots with higher per capita gas consumption are also identified in Hungary. The geographical dimension is crucial, and it is not possible to make general decisions on energy efficiency issues. Effective results can be achieved through spatially concentrated interventions.

Examining the magnitude and causes of variation in electricity use in a sample of Indian dwellings with and without air conditioning

ABSTRACT Understanding the factors that drive the use of residential electricity in India is essential for designing policies that can reduce its expected growth. This study empirically examines the magnitude and causes of variation in electricity use in a sample of Indian dwellings with and without air conditioning (AC), using an interview-based survey approach applied in 41 dwellings located across two cities representing the composite climate of India. Statistical analysis was used to unpack the relationship between electricity use and socio-technical factors. Despite the small sample size and having the same climatological realm, there was a wide variation observed in electricity use by income groups and the presence of ACs. The mean annual residential electricity consumption (REC) was observed to be highest in high-income group dwellings (5,618 kWh/year), followed by middle-income group dwellings (3,870 kWh/year) and lowest in low-income group dwellings (2,169 kWh/year). The mean REC of AC dwellings (4,208 kWh/year) was found to be nearly double that of non-AC dwellings (2,260 kWh/year) with significant seasonal variation. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the presence of ACs, household size (number of occupants), annual non-AC appliance hours, dwelling size (number of rooms) and income group accounted for 80% of the variability in REC across the study sample. Residential energy policy in India should consider these key factors that drive REC. To be effective, such policy programmes need to be customised for different income groups, adopting incentives as well as energy awareness campaigns to influence both purchasing and habitual behaviours.

TENAGA DAN KELESTARIAN DALAM PENDIDIKAN: ANALISIS BIBLIOMETRIK TERHADAP ARAH TUJU PENYELIDIKAN (2019-2023)

This bibliometric analysis (2019-2023) explores the integration of energy sustainability in education. Utilizing data from Scopus, the study employs VOSviewer to map emerging trends and interconnections within this research domain. Focusing on the role of sustainability and energy conservation in educational contexts, particularly in lower and higher education, the study highlights the evolving discourse and its impact. It underscores the importance of incorporating sustainable energy concepts into educational curricula, preparing students for future environmental challenges. The analysis reveals key patterns in publication trends, subject distribution, and collaborative networks, offering a comprehensive overview of scholarly attention on sustainability in the field of education. This comprehensive bibliometric review contributes to understanding the pedagogical strategies and policy implications for embedding sustainability and energy awareness in educational systems globally.

Holistic Energy Awareness and Robustness for Intelligent Drones

Drones represent a significant technological shift at the convergence of on-demand cyber-physical systems and edge intelligence. However, realizing their full potential necessitates managing the limited energy resources carefully. Prior work looks at factors such as battery characteristics, intelligent edge sensing considerations, planning, and robustness in isolation. But a global view of energy awareness that considers these factors and looks at various tradeoffs is essential. To this end, we present results from our detailed empirical study of battery charge-discharge characteristics and the impact of altitude and lighting on edge inference accuracy. Our energy models, derived from these observations, predict energy usage while performing various manoeuvres with an error of 5.6%, a 2.5X improvement over the state-of-the-art. Furthermore, we propose a holistic energy-aware multi-drone scheduling system that decreases the energy consumed by 21.14% and the mission times by 46.91% over state-of-the-art baselines. To achieve system robustness in the event of link or drone failure, we observe trends in Packet Delivery Ratio to propose a methodology to establish reliable communication between nodes. We release an open-source implementation of our system. Finally, we tie all of these pieces together using a people-counting case study.

The Influence of the Global Energy Crisis on Energy Efficiency: A Comprehensive Analysis

The global energy crisis, which began in 2021 due to the extraordinary economic recovery after the pandemic and intensified after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has changed the conditions of energy management, paying more attention to energy efficiency. Natural gas prices have reached record levels and, consequently, so have electricity prices in some markets. Oil prices have reached their highest level since 2008. Higher energy prices have contributed to sharply increased inflation. Households are again becoming interested in buying coal as a source of heat. High energy and gas prices have pushed many families into poverty and forced some factories to cut production or even close. They have also slowed economic growth to the point where some countries are heading for a serious recession. Paradoxically, the negative effects of the energy crisis may accelerate the introduction of cleaner, sustainable, renewable energy such as wind and solar energy. The energy crisis is comparable to the oil crisis of the 1970s, when it contributed to significant advances in energy efficiency. The current crisis has highlighted the importance of investments in renewable energy resources and initiated the process of integrating regional markets, developing energy efficiency and promoting renewable energies. The aim of this article is to comprehensively explore the complex relationship between energy awareness, consumption patterns, and energy efficiency, with a focus on both individual consumers and industries, during the global energy crisis. This paper is based on a literature review, overarching policy documents, energy reports, and other secondary documents. The primary research method was the systematic literature review method, based on which the impact of the global energy crisis on energy efficiency was evaluated. This study emphasizes the diverse influences on energy awareness, ranging from economic factors to consumer preferences and environmental consciousness. The findings of the paper underscore the significant responsibility of industries in contributing to energy-saving efforts and the active role of consumers in the energy market. The responsibility of industries in contributing to energy efficiency is highlighted, with a call for a comprehensive approach that integrates energy-saving criteria into product development and corporate social responsibility.

Silicon Solar Cells: Trends, Manufacturing Challenges, and AI Perspectives

Photovoltaic (PV) installations have experienced significant growth in the past 20 years. During this period, the solar industry has witnessed technological advances, cost reductions, and increased awareness of renewable energy’s benefits. As more than 90% of the commercial solar cells in the market are made from silicon, in this work we will focus on silicon-based solar cells. As PV research is a very dynamic field, we believe that there is a need to present an overview of the status of silicon solar cell manufacturing (from feedstock production to ingot processing to solar cell fabrication), including recycling and the use of artificial intelligence. Therefore, this work introduces the silicon solar cell value chain with cost and sustainability aspects. It provides an overview of the main manufacturing techniques for silicon ingots, specifically Czochralski and directional solidification, with a focus on highlighting their key characteristics. We discuss the major challenges in silicon ingot production for solar applications, particularly optimizing production yield, reducing costs, and improving efficiency to meet the continued high demand for solar cells. We review solar cell technology developments in recent years and the new trends. We briefly discuss the recycling aspects, and finally, we present how digitalization and artificial intelligence can aid in solving some of the current PV industry challenges.

Multi-Hop and Mesh for LoRa Networks: Recent Advancements, Issues, and Recommended Applications

A comprehensive review is presented on the latest approaches to solutions focusing on multi-hop and mesh LoRa networks through the evaluation of simulations and real-world experiments, based on papers published between 2015 and 2023. The approaches are systematically classified into four (4) aspects: energy awareness, concurrent access and duty cycle regulations, routing protocols, and security. The first aspect encompasses parameter selection, distance, and clustering. The second aspect focuses on network segregation and time synchronisation. The third aspect covers proactive, reactive, and hybrid routing protocols. The aspect of security includes privacy and Denial-of-Service (DoS). Findings show a consensus that multi-hop networks and adherence to radio duty cycle are able to lower average power consumption. Concurrent access method can improve network performance, but more research is needed due to different conclusions. Reactive protocols have a slight advantage over proactive protocols in terms of node deployment scalability and lower power consumption due to less frequent routing table updates. Hybrid protocols are only beneficial in specific topology deployments. Security is still a major concern for LoRa networks, particularly on attacks such as Man-In-The-Middle (MITM), spoofing, wormholes, flooding, packet replay, and information disclosure. The upcoming trend of implementing machine learning algorithms to multi-hop and mesh LoRa networks opens up a wide range of possibilities, ranging from airspace efficiency, efficient route selection, and improving data throughput. A detailed discussion of the aspects’ issues and recommended industry applications that will benefit from multi-hop and mesh LoRa networks are also provided.

Conversational Agents for Energy Awareness and Efficiency: A Survey

The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote energy efficiency is crucial to achieve the energy transition and sustainable development goals. The availability of tools that provide clear information on energy consumption plays a key role in this transition, enabling users to monitor, manage, and optimize their energy use. This process, commonly referred to as energy feedback or eco-feedback, involves delivering information regarding energy usage and potentially suggesting more sustainable practices. Within the range of available tools, conversational agents can represent a valuable channel to receive detailed information about energy consumption and tailored advice for improving energy efficiency. The aim of this article is thus to explore the application of conversational agents, focusing on eco-feedback, as these tools are primarily devised to foster user awareness of energy usage and enhance more participatory conservation strategies. To this end, we conducted a keyword-based search of major scientific article databases, applying strict criteria to select relevant studies. The results of the collection showed that there is a very diverse landscape with respect to this topic. The surveyed works exhibit a high versatility in feedback goals. Furthermore, while predominantly applied domestically, they also show potential in commercial and industrial settings. Implementation choices also vary to a great extent, while evaluation practices lack a systematic approach and highlight the need for greater consistency. In light of these remarks, we also outline possible future extensions of this type of application, exploring in particular the emerging challenges associated with the increased use of renewable sources and the rise of local decentralized energy communities.

Green Cartography: A research agenda towards sustainable development

ABSTRACT The role of cartography in environmentally-sustainable development is twofold: first, useful and usable maps enable sense making and decision making about environmental processes, impacts, and protections; second, maps themselves, as digital tools, can be more energy efficient in minimizing our impact on the environment. In this paper, we elevate this energy awareness as a key design consideration for maps and introduce a novel conceptual framework for considering the carbon footprint of the content, form, and use of maps. We first systematically investigate how specific map design decisions impact the energy consumption of digital devices. We then discuss the possible ways that digital maps can be greener, outlining a series of ‘big questions’ about the content, form, and use context of maps needing future research to realize greener maps. Finally, we assert that green cartography requires not only novel techniques to design green maps but also greater attention to shaping individual, organizational, and social attitudes towards environmentally-friendly maps.

Enhancement and experimental study on thermal behaviour of heat pipe based solar absorber by using CuO nanofluid

Technological growth in thermal science found that the awareness of solar thermal energy improved widely in various applications and spotted issues on conventional flat plate solar collectors operating with water fluid: lower thermal efficiency, limited thermal performance during low sunlight, and unavoidable heat loss for extended plate surface. This research attempts to enhance the thermal performance of solar collectors modified with heat pipe solar absorber (HPSA) evaluated by 0.010, 0.015, and 0.02 volume fractions of CuO nanofluid at 18 Lpm. The effect of CuO on varied flow rate on temperature gain, heat transfer coefficient, and thermal efficiency of HPSA is experimentally studied, and its findings are compared with water fluid. The HPSA operates with 0.015 volume CuO nanofluid with a higher rate of flow, proving better thermal performance and offering a maximum temperature gain of 68?C with a better heat transfer coefficient of 81.5W/m2K results enhanced thermal efficiency of 85.2%, which are higher than the water fluid operated HPSA system. An optimum operating parameter of HPSA is suggested for heat exchanger applications.

Exploring the adoption of photovoltaic cleaning robots: An institutional management approach

There is increased adoption of renewable energy, particularly photovoltaic (PV), as a major source of clean and environmentally friendly energy. With the wide application of PV technologies, commonly called solar panels, their appropriate maintenance and cleaning are vital for optimum PV energy generation. The research focuses on exploring the various factors attributed to influence the want, intention and need to use PV panel cleaning robots in Thailand from an institutional management perspective. The study adopted the extended C-TAM-TPB by adding three more variables - Trust in technology, awareness of renewable energy, and environmental concern. A quantitative approach was used, where primary data was collected from PV institutional users. A population sample of 411 respondents was used. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) came in handy in evaluating the performance model, with the study's hypotheses being evaluated by the structural equation modeling (SEM). Results indicated that most of the subjective behaviors, perceived behavioral controls, and trust in technology played a key role in determining the intention and need to use solar panel cleaning robots. Perceived usefulness was found to have significant influence towards PV panel adoption. The influence of attitude was mediated by several factors – environmental concern, renewable energy awareness, trust in technology. The study recommended that the institutional users of solar panels should consider investing in knowledge regarding perceived behavioral control, developing confidence in the use of renewable and sustainable energy, and developing trust of the renewable and sustainable energy technologies. This could be achieved through programs such as public awareness, sharing accurate information regarding solar panel cleaning robots, and providing support and after sales support. Educational initiatives to change users' attitudes toward renewable energy technologies were recommended.

Energy-Efficient Manufacturing: Opportunities and Challenges

The industrial manufacturing sector is the biggest final usage sector when speaking of both final energy consumption and emission of greenhouse gases (accounting for over 30% of the total); the industry's expansion is fast modifying the climate of the whole globe. Energy conservation is one of the key components of success for sustainable production because of the pressing need to reduce the negative effects that industrial operations have on the surrounding environment. As a direct consequence of this, the scientific community's involvement in energy management has significantly increased, which has resulted in a number of literature evaluations being conducted on methodologies. However, there is a dearth of both a detailed study of the techniques and tools that attempt to improve energy awareness as well as an assessment of the impact that these methods and tools have on energy efficiency. To try to fill this void, the author of this work conducts an extensive literature study on the various energy assessment methodologies and tools with their microstructures. After examining the databases of scientific literature, a total of 1366 publications were retrieved; however, it might be of use to industry practitioners in the field of energy management. In accordance with the guidelines provided by ISO 50001, the procedures and instruments were categorized into three primary areas (namely, AAM which means analysis, assessment, and saving measures), and the particular results important to each category were then synthesized as the outcome of study. In its concluding section, the article discusses problems and topics that still need to be addressed and offers proposals for new lines of inquiry.

A Novel Group Decision-Making Approach With Entropy Measure for Energy Aware in Wireless Sensor Network Architecture

A Novel Group Decision-Making Approach With Entropy Measure for Energy Aware in Wireless Sensor Network Architecture

Energy Aware Handoff Management for Cluster based D2D Communications

Energy Aware Handoff Management for Cluster based D2D Communications

Innovative Design of Solar Benches for Public Spaces: Renewable Energy with Arduino Integration

This research aims to design and implement an innovative park bench that combines solar panel technology with the Arduino platform. The methodology of this research consists of designing the integration of solar panels with Arduino components that are assembled integrated on the physical bench. In the analysis phase, measurements of solar energy production were conducted under various light and weather conditions. The performance of the system in battery charging and fulfillment of energy needs was evaluated. Environmental data from Arduino sensors were analyzed to illustrate the effect of environmental conditions on system operation. The results showed that the solar bench produced higher energy during daytime and reduced during nighttime conditions. The system can supply energy for purposes such as lighting and charging electronic devices. The voltage and current data at night show inefficiency in charging the solar panel, while the cell phone charger condition works as long as the battery is above 15%. In addition, environmental analysis through Arduino sensors revealed a correlation between light intensity and energy production and usage. These findings can be used to optimize the operation of the smart bench system based on changing environmental conditions. In conclusion, this solar bench design has the potential to reduce environmental impacts and support the use of renewable energy in urban public spaces, with the potential to increase public awareness of sustainable energy

Research on energy efficiency and decarbonization pathway of nearly zero energy buildings based on system dynamic simulation

Accounting for over 40% of the total energy consumption, the global building sector is pivotal for achieving carbon peak and neutrality objectives. The intricate nature of building carbon emissions, influenced by spatial, temporal, and multifactor coupling, poses challenges on implementing carbon-neutral technologies and conservation strategies. This study focuses on nearly zero energy buildings in China and employs system dynamics to predict energy consumption and carbon emissions according to various scenarios, unveiling influencing patterns and viable emission reduction pathways. The results highlight the substantial impact of enhancing energy conservation awareness as this leads to a 36.4% reduction in energy consumption and a 44.2% reduction in carbon emissions. To attain energy efficiency and carbon reduction goals, a comprehensive approach is essential, encompassing improved building performance, heightened resident energy awareness, increased renewable energy use, and energy landscape adjustments. These findings inform future building energy and carbon emission regulations and offer valuable policy insights.

Awareness on the Energy Saving Behaviour Among Students: Gamification Approach

Various ways or strategies to give awareness to the people of Malaysia about energy savings. However, the strategy used by researchers is the use of gamification to provide awareness for energy saving. Therefore, observations based on previous studies should be made based on gamification and energy saving. Results from previous studies show that gamification can motivate and change a person's behavior. In this study, researchers focus on obtaining information based on game design elements based on the researcher's objective which is What are the game design elements that are needed to improve learners' understanding of the content of energy-saving behavior. To qualify, researchers use quantitative methods. As a result of the study conducted, researchers present the findings of a pilot study on Bachelor of Design students. the reliability coefficients obtained for all five constructs in the assessment instrument for Bachelor of Design students. It is found that Cronbach Alpha values range from 0.955 to 0.984. This concludes the value that can be a guideline to develop gamification based on the design elements and can make users aware of energy saving.

In Search for Untapped Energy-Saving Potential in Green and Smart Higher Educational Buildings—An Empirical Case Study Involving the Building Occupants

Energy-intense activities and the unpredictable and complex behavior of building occupants lead to an increase in building energy demand. It is, therefore, crucial to study underlying factors for building energy demand related to the users. Higher educational buildings are relevant to study for several reasons: they host the future workforce and citizens, they are predicted to increase in numbers, and they represent a building type less studied. Furthermore, green-rated buildings equipped with smart building systems also represent a research gap that is relevant to address since such a building design involves IoT-functionalities and digital features for the building occupants to interact with. There is also a conceivable risk that if the users know that the building is green-rated and technologically advanced, this may alter their perception of the building operation and thus their behavior. To study the relationship between building occupants and such green and smart educational structure, a survey was conducted in a Swedish higher educational building; as a result, 300 responses were collected and analyzed. The responses revealed that the building occupants act with energy awareness, and they are conscious about energy-saving behaviors. One building feature in particular was studied: the Digital Room Panels (DRPs). The DRP allows the building occupants to modify the indoor temperature and is, therefore, essential for thermal comfort. One key finding from the survey revealed that 70% of the building occupants did not know how the DRPs operate. This study argues that this result can be explained with a lack of communication and user friendliness. Inadequate interactions with building systems could also result in opportunities for energy saving might not be realized. The findings of this case study led to valuable recommendations and suggestions for future research endeavors.

Enhancing Energy Efficiency in Retail within Smart Cities through Demand-Side Management Models

The energy discourse is multifaceted, encompassing energy creation, storage, and conservation. Beyond the imperative of conserving energy consumption, effective energy management is a critical aspect of achieving overall energy efficiency. Despite being traditionally regarded as low electricity consumers, retailers play a pivotal role in economic activity. While categorized as non-productive energy users, the retail industry operates numerous establishments, facing substantial energy costs that make energy management integral to its operations. Historically, smaller retail stores have lacked awareness of energy saving. However, by connecting these stores, even modest reductions in individual electricity consumption can yield significant overall energy savings. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of implementing the demand-side management (DSM) aggregator model in the retail industry. Through surveys on awareness of energy saving and the application of deep learning techniques to analyze the effectiveness of the Aggregator model, the results reveal that the mean squared prediction error (MSPE) of this research is below 2.05%. This indicates substantial accuracy and offers meaningful reference value for Energy Service Company (ESCO) providers. The findings contribute practical recommendations for the sustainable and competitive implementation of DSM energy management practices in smart cities.

Analyzing the Energy Awareness of Pre-Service Teachers Using the Word Association Method

Abstract Energy awareness education as part of sustainability education is the joint task of schools and society as a whole. However, only teachers who themselves possess this competence can educate students in energy awareness. Accordingly, the aim of the research was to examine the energy awareness of pre-service teachers. To achieve the aim, the research attempted to find answers to the questions of what kind of knowledge about energy awareness the pre-service teachers in the sample had, whether students showed the interdisciplinary characteristics of sustainability in their knowledge, and what relationships could be observed in this knowledge system. The research was conducted in the autumn of 2021 at three universities in the North-East region of Hungary with 272 pre-service teachers participating voluntarily. The word association method was used for the study. Greatest association frequency was measured. The analysis of association fields proved the interdisciplinary nature of the students’ knowledge of energy awareness. The highest association frequency was measured in the area of renewable energy sources and their use, while the least association frequency was measured in the area of empathy. The association graphs showed no meaningful difference in relationships between the studied student groups. The results showed definitive, unrelated knowledge.