Incorporating Energy Efficiency Research Articles

Bottom-up method to derive cost curves for space heating savings in residential buildings for all European countries

Space heating constitutes approximately a quarter of final energy consumption in the European Union. Aligned with the ambition of the European Green Deal for climate-neutrality by 2050, effective energy system modelling is crucial for shaping strategies. However, integrating energy efficiency within the building sector remains challenging due to limited methodologies and data on specific energy consumption, heated surfaces, and retrofit costs. This paper proposes a methodology that balances accuracy and implementation effort through clustering analysis and relies entirely on open data primarily from the Hotmaps project to compute country-specific cost curves for energy savings in building space heating for each of the EU-27 countries. The aim is to empower energy system modelers to better incorporate energy efficiency measures into scenarios, thus advancing strategies in line with the European Green Deal. Findings indicate that the retrofits considered – insulation of façade, roof, ground floor; windows replacement – can save 40–60 % of space heating energy demand in most countries but marginal costs range widely, from 2 to 180 Eurocents invested per kWh saved over the retrofit lifetime. Climate conditions and existing insulation levels significantly influence the cost-effectiveness of these retrofits. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders working towards climate-neutral objectives.

Re-investigating the linkage between buildings’ energy efficiency and mortgage rates

ABSTRACT The energy use in residential buildings is one of the deciding factors in the transition to a carbon-neutral economy. Using data on Dutch residential mortgages from 2013 to 2022, we re-investigate the linkage between mortgage interest rates and the energy efficiency of buildings. The results are novel in that they are the first to empirically provide evidence in favour of a small sustainability discount of about 3 bps on mortgage interest rates for residential homes. Sensitivity checks suggest that younger-aged borrowers and those in the middle-income range benefit the most from a sustainability discount. From a policy perspective, our results are relevant as they show how banks ‘walk the talk’ and incorporate energy efficiency in mortgage terms.

Investigating the impact of housing price increases on consumption: heterogeneity by age, tenure and housing quality

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the distributional impact of house price increases on consumption in the context of the energy transition.Design/methodology/approachThis study draws from two micro cross-sectional datasets, the English Housing Survey (EHS) and the Living Costs and Food Survey (LCFS) to study the Marginal Propensity to Consume (MPC) out of changes in house prices. By employing pseudo-panel regressions, the paper examines the impact of house price changes on consumption among diverse household types.FindingsThis paper finds varying consumption responses to house price changes across age and tenure groups. Older homeowners tend to increase consumption when house prices rise. In contrast, middle-aged individuals, often renters or mortgage holders, reduce consumption in response to price increases. The youngest age group also experiences increased consumption but to a lesser degree than the oldest group. Energy-efficient homes are related to lower consumption across all tenure levels. However, when interacted with house prices and age, the estimates are positive, pointing to an unequal accrual of property premiums depending on housing market positions.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitations stem from data constraints. First, using a pseudo-panel approach hinders control for unobservable selection bias. Additionally, while robust under cross-validation and specifications tests, the energy efficiency variable imputation results in a low number of energy-efficient homes. Due to heterogeneous responses to rising house prices, this paper contends that an energy transition model that subsidises homeowners’ renovation is likely to produce a negative impact on consumption among younger and middle-aged households.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the MPC literature by incorporating energy efficiency as a key variable. It draws from recent data to obtain new estimates. By highlighting shifts in consumption patterns the paper contributes to a well-established body of literature with renewed policy relevance regarding housing retrofit.

INCORPORATING ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN URBAN PLANNING: A REVIEW OF POLICIES AND BEST PRACTICES

The increasing global focus on sustainable development has prompted a reevaluation of urban planning strategies, with a particular emphasis on incorporating energy efficiency measures. This paper provides a comprehensive review of policies and best practices aimed at integrating energy-efficient principles into urban planning frameworks. Urbanization is on the rise, and cities play a pivotal role in both economic growth and environmental impact. Recognizing the urgency to mitigate climate change and reduce the ecological footprint of urban areas, policymakers worldwide are adopting measures to enhance energy efficiency in urban planning. This review examines a range of policies implemented across different regions, highlighting successful strategies and lessons learned. Key components of energy-efficient urban planning encompass building design, transportation systems, and infrastructure development. Stringent building codes and standards, coupled with incentives for energy-efficient construction, emerge as effective tools in promoting sustainable architecture. Moreover, the integration of green spaces, renewable energy sources, and smart technologies within urban infrastructure contributes significantly to energy conservation. The review also explores the role of public transportation and the promotion of alternative modes of commuting in reducing carbon emissions. Case studies from cities with successful public transportation initiatives illustrate the positive impact on both energy efficiency and overall urban livability. In addition to policy analysis, this paper delves into best practices employed by cities striving for energy efficiency. Collaboration between local governments, private sectors, and communities emerges as a common thread in successful urban planning initiatives. Furthermore, engaging citizens through awareness campaigns and participatory planning processes fosters a sense of collective responsibility, driving the adoption of sustainable practices. In conclusion, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape of energy-efficient urban planning. By examining policies and best practices, it serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, urban planners, and researchers working towards creating more sustainable and resilient cities in the face of growing urbanization and climate change.
 Keywords: Energy, Urban Planning, Energy Policies, Best Practices, Review.

The impact of green tax and energy efficiency on sustainability: Evidence from Bangladesh

This study examines the impact of green tax and energy efficiency on sustainability in the context of Bangladeshi manufacturing companies. Three hundred eighty three responses were collected from manufacturing companies in Bangladesh, and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the data. The results show that green tax significantly positively affects environmental and social sustainability but not economic sustainability. Energy efficiency has a positive impact on all three dimensions of sustainability. Furthermore, energy efficiency mediates the relationship between green tax and economic, environmental, and social sustainability. The findings suggest that energy efficiency should be promoted as an effective means of achieving sustainability in manufacturing companies and that green tax policies can be enhanced by incorporating energy efficiency measures. This research contributes to the existing literature on sustainability by highlighting the importance of energy efficiency as a mediator between green tax and sustainability. The study’s practical implications are discussed in relation to the Bangladeshi manufacturing industry, and suggestions are made for policymakers and company managers. The originality of this study lies in its focus on a developing country context and its examination of the mediating role of energy efficiency in the relationship between green tax and sustainability.

Energy-efficient Optimization of Life-cycle Costs Based on BIM

This article deals with a methodology for the economic development of energy-efficient buildings from an early planning or development phase based on building information modelling (BIM). In this context, both geometrically and energetically relevant parameters of a building are derived from a digital building model, already in the early phase of a project. The subsequent definition of building components for the building envelope and the performance of an energy demand calculation provides the basis for the selection of reference buildings suitable for the respective application. This enables the determination of practical costs, which include both annuity costs and total costs arising in the life cycle of the building for the cost groups of the building structures and the technical building equipment. By taking a holistic view of all costs and focusing specifically on energy efficiency, the methodology presented in this article can be used to identify both ecological and economic advantages for planning in the early stages of a project. By incorporating energy efficiency and economic efficiency, a sustainable and successful project can be achieved.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS FOR LOW-INCOME AND MINORITY HOMES

Energy conservation and efficiency at the household level are important measures to reduce inequitable energy burdens, promote climate resilience, and encourage an equitable transition to clean energy in the US. The Community Weatherization Coalition (CWC), a non-profit coalition, has provided free home energy and water surveys to improve energy efficiency since 2008, focusing on low-income residential homes of Alachua County, Florida. This paper discusses descriptive statistical results of the program in reduction of energy and water usage for 312 households in Alachua County that were served from 2016 to 2019. The findings indicate that the CWC program has provided an innovative and effective way to reduce the inequitable energy burden for low-income residential populations through volunteer-based home energy conservation services. The results highlight the importance of incorporating energy efficiency into efforts to promote the transition to clean energy and suggest how local government and utilities can leverage energy efficiency to increase the resilience of the community.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS FOR LOW-INCOME AND MINORITY HOMES

Energy conservation and efficiency at the household level are important measures to reduce inequitable energy burdens, promote climate resilience, and encourage an equitable transition to clean energy in the US. The Community Weatherization Coalition (CWC), a non-profit coalition, has provided free home energy and water surveys to improve energy efficiency since 2008, focusing on low-income residential homes of Alachua County, Florida. This paper discusses descriptive statistical results of the program in reduction of energy and water usage for 312 households in Alachua County that were served from 2016 to 2019. The findings indicate that the CWC program has provided an innovative and effective way to reduce the inequitable energy burden for low-income residential populations through volunteer-based home energy conservation services. The results highlight the importance of incorporating energy efficiency into efforts to promote the transition to clean energy and suggest how local government and utilities can leverage energy efficiency to increase the resilience of the community.

Synergies between China's Whole County photovoltaic program and rural heat pump adoption

AbstractElectrification of heating, particularly with highly‐efficient heat pumps, is increasingly viewed as essential for reaching the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement. China has promoted replacement of dirty coal heating in rural areas. More recently China has also begun promoting distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) energy as a rural development strategy, particularly with the launch of the Whole County PV pilot program in 2021. While several studies have examined the economics of heat pump adoption, with or without solar PV, the Whole County PV program has not been specifically studied. Further, many prior studies utilize monthly average solar production or temperature ranges. This study examines the economics of heat pumps in participating counties in the Whole County PV program, employing hourly data for both PV output and ambient temperature in participating counties. The analysis shows that pairing residential heat pumps with PV in counties in Shandong, Henan, and Jiangsu would result in short economic payback periods versus gas or resistance heat, while also increasing self‐consumption of PV. The results suggest that expanding the Whole County PV program to incorporate energy efficiency and heating/cooling measures represents an economically attractive way to accelerate the rural energy transition and improve rural livelihoods. Such a policy would help accelerate the low‐carbon energy transition, reduce air pollutant emissions, and help address oversupply of midday PV output in local areas. Barriers to the approach include involvement of different government ministries, the cost of upgrading building insulation, the design of building codes, and the structure of electricity tariffs.This article is categorized under: Sustainable Energy > Solar Energy Energy and Power Systems > Electrification Cities and Transportation > Buildings

The greenlight for government buildings: strategies for a low-carbon building portfolio

There is a global focus by governments on retrofitting buildings, as well as incorporating energy efficiency into new construction, as a means to address climate change. Initiatives to reduce energy use, source renewable electricity, and use low-carbon materials are aimed at leading by example, where governments attempt to showcase innovation through green building strategies. Greening government initiatives are promoted to reduce operating costs, improve energy system resilience, grow the “green” economy, support clean energy development, and encourage sustainable building practices. Here, we outline the benefits of greening government initiatives by examining Canada's Greening Government Strategy as a case study approach for transitioning to a low-carbon building portfolio. We focus our review on initiatives that outline how public institutions can transition buildings to reduce their carbon footprint by (1) pairing greening government mandates with adequate support structures for public agencies, (2) using an integrated energy management process for the planning and development of carbon-neutral portfolios, and (3) overcoming barriers to low-carbon project implementation with procurement standards, financial instruments, and staff training. These approaches are defined to offer leadership in the green building industry, strategically identify carbon reduction projects, and reduce barriers to a low-carbon building portfolio.

A stochastic multi‐objective model for energy efficiency and renewable resource planning in energy communities: A sustainably cost‐effective trade‐off

AbstractThe integration of energy efficiency programs and renewable resources in energy communities (EC) incorporating smart microgrids might be the future development of sustainable cities. Cooperation among EC with high penetration of renewable energy resources will support energy procurement. Mutual energy efficiency programs in EC associated with deploying renewable resources can guarantee sustainable development significantly. This paper proposes a new sustainability index (SI) influenced by the loss of load reduction while increasing the penetration of renewable energies. A multi‐objective optimization method is used to determine the optimal size and location of renewable resources incorporating energy efficiency programs. The objective functions, that is, the total cost and SI, are based upon social, economic, environmental, and technical (SEET) considerations. Since the outputs of renewable energies are uncertain, it may increase the loss of load probability. Therefore, this paper introduces a model that can handle the uncertainties of renewable energies. A new method so‐called adaptive multi‐objective crow search algorithm (AMCSA) is developed for the trade‐off between cost and sustainability in the optimization problem. The proposed methodology cannot only minimize the total cost in EC but also will maximize the SI. Simulation studies and results analysis indicates the effectiveness of the proposed methodology for the development of sustainability and renewable energies in the smart grid.

Green and Highly Efficient MIMO Transceiver System for 5G Heterogenous Networks

The paper presents the general requirements and an exemplary design of the RF front-end system that in today’s handset is a key consumer of power. The design is required to minimize the carbon footprint in mobile handsets devices, whilst facilitating cooperation, and providing the energy-efficient operation of multi-standards for 5G communications. It provides the basis of hardware solutions for RF front-end integration challenges and offers design features covering energy efficiency for power amplifiers (PAs), Internet of Things (IoT) controlled tunable filters and compact highly isolated multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) antennas. An optimum design requires synergetic collaboration between academic institutions and industry in order to satisfy the key requirements of sub-6 GHz energy-efficient 5G transceivers, incorporating energy efficiency, good linearity and the potential for low-cost manufacturing. A highly integrated RF transceiver was designed and implemented to transmit and receive a picture using compact MIMO antennas integrated with efficient tunable filters and high linearity PAs. The proposed system has achieved a bit error rate (BER) of less than 10–10 at a data rate of 600 Mb/s with a wireless communication distance of more than 1 meter and power dissipation of 18–20 mW using hybrid beamforming technology and 64-QAM modulation.

Options for Incorporating Energy Efficiency into Extension Programs: A Menu of Possibilities for Extension Energy Programming in Your Community

This new 3-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication is part of a series showing how Extension agents, community activists and sustainability educators can implement a program that reduces energy use and saves money on utility expenses for low-income households. This document outlines a range of options for Extension agents to consider when planning to integrate energy education into their Extension programs. It provides initial steps that require little to no resources, as well as additional possibilities at medium to higher costs (both financially and in terms of staff time).https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc409

Designing a smart integrated workspace to improve building energy efficiency: an Indonesian case study

The increased energy consumption in office building led to stakeholders’ renewed interests in optimizing office buildings’ energy performances, such as indoor comfort, energy efficiency, and life cycle costs. One of the most effective solutions to hedging against building operation optimization is incorporating energy efficiency measures and architectural programming early. This paper proposes a Smart Integrated Workspace Design (SIWD) framework that integrates architectural programming system using Internet of Things (IoT) technology into the Value Engineering (VE) process to assess design alternatives targeted explicitly at future smart office buildings. The use of the SIWD led to an improved development cycle linking architectural plans and engineering design. An empirical test using a large building owner, their designers, and contractors in Jakarta, Indonesia, resulted in an 18% improvement in building energy performance and quality when the design team used the SIWD framework. It is also indicated that leveraging advanced technology and incorporating familiar concepts and processes increased user willingness to adopt the SIWD in future projects. So, incorporated the IoT in architectural design and evaluated by VE made the readiness and friendly technology to all occupants to get the building efficiency and comfort unsteady.

Energy Efficiency Package for Tenant Fit-Out: Laboratory Testing and Validation of Energy Savings and Indoor Environmental Quality

Approximately 40% of the total U.S. office floor space of 1.5 billion sq.m (16 billion sq.ft.) is leased space occupied by tenants. Tenant fit-out presents a key opportunity to incorporate energy efficiency within the real estate business cycle. We designed a package of energy efficiency measures tailored to the scope of a tenant fit-out. This tenant fit-out package (TFP) includes advanced lighting and heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) controls as core measures, with ceiling fans, automated shading, and plug load controls as additional optional measures. We conducted laboratory testing of six configurations of the package to evaluate energy savings, indoor environmental quality, and identify installation, commissioning, and operational issues. Combined savings for HVAC, lighting, and plug loads ranged from 33–40%. Lighting savings ranged from 69–83%, and HVAC savings from 20–40%. The laboratory testing also revealed some minor but tractable challenges with installation and commissioning of HVAC controls. Overall, the results demonstrate that significant savings can be realized in existing office buildings by incorporating relatively low-risk, proven measures at the time of a tenant fit-out.

Research on the building energy efficiency design strategy of Chinese universities based on green performance analysis

China has a large number of existing public buildings and rapidly growing energy demand of public buildings. For this reason, the government and the relevant administrative sections have issued many policies, regulations, and incentives to decelerate the growth of the energy consumption of public buildings. However, the diverse types of buildings, as well as different design standards and construction technologies, create large differences in the energy consumption rules and energy efficiency standards of different buildings. The total number of universities in China is approximately 2845, with 13 types of buildings. The annual energy consumption is nearly 30 million tons of standard coal, and the water consumption is nearly 4 million tons. The total energy consumption accounts for 8% of the total social energy consumption. The energy and water consumption of each student are 4 times and 2 times that of the average Chinese resident, respectively, and show with a rigid growth trend. Based on the concept of “green performance” proposed by the “ Evaluation Standard for Green Buildings” (GB/T50378-2019), this study takes the most representative building types of libraries and dormitories as examples. The problems of these building types are systematically analyzed in terms of planning layout, lighting, ventilation, thermal comfort, system energy consumption and equipment energy consumption through on-site investigation, thermal environment testing, energy consumption data analysis, and environment, shape and structure design simulation. Finally, the energy efficiency design strategy model of university buildings based on green performance analysis is established, including planning and design strategy, form design strategy, construction design strategy, system design strategy, and equipment use strategy, especially the sub-items of form design and space division in the formal design strategy. This strategy is the best response to the need to advance the energy efficiency design of these buildings. From the beginning of the design, energy efficiency should be combined with architectural planning and layout, functional design, construction design, system design and other noumenon elements. On the one hand, the strategy considers the relationship between the sub items and energy efficiency such as shape design and spatial division related to the building function; on the other hand, it also considers the relationship between the system design and energy efficiency of large-scale buildings, to meet the requirements of 65% energy conservation in “The Design Standard for Energy Efficiency of Public Buildings” (GB 50189–2015).These considerations are all representative of a design strategy that incorporates green performance characteristics. The research results show that the existing buildings can be retrofitted to fully tap their energy efficiency potential, and new buildings should incorporate energy efficiency from the stage of architectural design, to allow technology to serve the design; achieve the efficiency, health and applicability goals of green buildings; and achieve the energy efficiency design goal based on green performance analysis.

The wandering energy stars: The challenges of valuing energy efficiency in Australian housing

In the context of curbing greenhouse gas emissions to meet the ambitious but much-needed targets to limit global warming to reasonable levels, residential housing can play a significant role. By enhancing the energy efficiency of residential housing, emission reductions, reduced costs and better health and wellbeing of occupants may be achieved. Despite gradual improvements in home energy efficiency, homeowner engagement could be greatly enhanced by the demonstration of how energy efficiency and energy ratings can be reflected in residential property values. Ascertaining the value of energy efficiency may enable greater investment and potential for increased availability of finance for added energy efficiency options in new and existing housing. Extant research suggests a significant relationship between house values, rental prices and energy efficiency certifications, particularly where mandatory disclosure operates. However, limited research has examined residential valuers’ (appraisers) perspectives and practice considerations.This paper examines the challenges for valuers in identifying and considering energy efficiency initiatives and ratings on residential property value and the capacity of residential valuation professionals to incorporate energy efficiency into the valuation (appraisal) process.The research identified limited means available to valuers in Australia in identifying energy efficiency attributes and ratings; challenges in awareness, knowledge, and understanding of energy efficiency ratings; and, subsequently, limitations in consideration of initiatives and ratings in valuation. This research affirms findings of other Australian and international studies, suggesting mandatory disclosure and certification are essential if energy efficiency is to be considered by the market and reflected in residential valuation.

Cost minimization for fully renewable electricity systems: A Mauritius case study

Climate change is the world's most prominent environmental problem, and fossil-fuel combustion is its primary cause. To set carbon reduction goals, policy makers require information on feasibility and cost of renewable energy systems. In this study, we describe an economic approach to modeling a national electricity system based entirely on renewable sources, using the island-nation of Mauritius as a case study.Many renewable electricity studies consider levelized costs of electricity (LCOE), which represents average cost of electricity, but cost minimization requires equalizing marginal costs. With variable sources, marginal costs change over time. Minimizing cost thus requires a model incorporating variability at high time resolution (daily or hourly), with the objective of minimizing the levelized cost of electricity for an entire electricity system (LCOES).In Mauritius, the minimum-cost renewable electricity portfolio includes roughly equal proportions of solar, wind, and biomass electricity, along with electricity storage. Policy issues include setting renewable energy targets, selecting policy instruments to incentivize optimum renewable energy portfolios, incorporating energy efficiency, determining appropriate discount rates, ensuring land availability, and accounting for non-cost considerations. Many of the economic and policy issues identified apply universally, and methods demonstrated in this study could be used anywhere in the world.

Life cycle assessment and life cycle costing of container-based single-family housing in Canada: A case study

This research presents an early-design analysis of single-family housing located in Calgary, Canada; and combines energy analysis, life cycle assessment (LCA), and life-cycle costing (LCC), to investigate the life cycle impacts associated with repurposing upcycled containers into modular housing. The study considers four case studies; container and lightwood designed to code specifications, both serving as base models and two improved models of container and lightwood, designed by incorporating energy efficiency measures and passive solar design standards.The life cycle assessment results for the code cases clearly show that majority of the life cycle environmental impacts (95%) occur at the use and operation phase, followed by the pre-use contributing 4%, and less than 1% at the end of life. For the improved cases, results show similar findings as the use and operation phase contributes approximately 85% impact, however, a higher pre-use impact of 12% is reported. Over the 50 years lifespan, the comparative life cycle impacts show only 3% difference when comparing container to lightwood cases.Sensitivity analysis show that utilizing Scenario 100:0 (container code-cut-of-method) in housing can result in a substantial amount of avoided impact about 46 (t CO2 eq) and (538 GJ) 149,444 kWh energy savings as compared to Scenario 0:100 (improved container – end of life recycling). Approximately 10% life cycle cost reduction is realized with the improved cases compared to code cases. This study proves the potentials for repurposing container for long-term usage as a building system, thereby meeting affordable housing needs with less environmental impacts.

An improved approach to estimate direct rebound effect by incorporating energy efficiency: A revisit of China's industrial energy demand

The rebound effect, or the response to energy efficiency improvement, has drawn considerable attention from economists and policymakers. However, the magnitude remains quite controversial because of the differences in the definitions and methods being used. Originating from the definition of direct rebound effect, we develop an improved approach incorporating energy efficiency. The main advantages of the proposed approach are twofold. First, it enables us to estimate the demand elasticity of useful energy service with respect to energy service price. The estimates are more consistent with the definition of rebound effect and are more effective. Second, it decomposes direct rebound effect into substitution and output channels, enabling us to further understand the microeconomic mechanisms. Applying this method, we assess the direct energy rebound effect in China's industrial sectors. We find that the direct rebound effect for the industry is 37.0%, and the substitution and output channels contribute to 13.1% and 23.9%, respectively. Substantial variations in the magnitudes and mechanisms occur by sector. For heavy industry, most energy rebound is induced by output expansion because of its sizeable cost decrease from efficiency improvements. Unlike heavy industry, most energy rebound in light industry comes from substituting energy service for other inputs because firms in light industry are more flexible in adjusting production inputs. Our results provide evidences for the importance of energy efficiency measures, and highlight the necessity of differentiated measures according to the sectoral characteristics.