Interest In Energy Efficiency Research Articles

Application of the Energy Efficiency Mathematical Model to Diagnose Photovoltaic Micro-Systems

The intensive development of photovoltaic (PV) micro-systems contributes to increased interest in energy efficiency and diagnosing the condition of such solutions. Optimizing system energy efficiency and servicing costs are particularly noteworthy among the numerous issues associated with this topic. This research paper addresses the easy and reliable diagnosis of PV system malfunctions. It discusses the original PV system energy efficiency simulation model with proprietary methods for determining total solar irradiance on the plane of cells installed at any inclination angle and azimuth, as well as PV cell temperature and efficiency as a function of solar irradiance. Based on this simulation model, the authors developed procedures for the remote diagnosis of PV micro-systems. Verification tests covered two independent PV systems over the period from April 2022 to May 2023. The obtained results confirm the high credibility level of both the adopted energy efficiency simulation model and the proposed method for diagnosing PV system functional status.

Homeowners’ Perceptions of Renewable Energy and Market Value of Sustainable Buildings

Growing concerns over environmental issues and sustainable living have resulted in increased interest in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The real estate market is no exception, with homeowners increasingly considering the market value of green and sustainable buildings, which can offer both energy efficiency and potential health benefits. This study investigates the level of interest among homeowners in investing in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures for their homes and how it relates to their perception of the market value of green or sustainable buildings in the real estate market. A survey was conducted in the Paphos urban complex in Cyprus, with 180 participants over the age of 18. The participants were selected through a random sampling method and were representative of the general population in terms of gender, age, and income. Data were collected on their attitudes towards renewable energy sources and energy efficiency, as well as their perceptions of the market value of green buildings. The data collected were analyzed using various statistical methods, including Cronbach’s α coefficient, the non-parametric Friedman test, descriptive statistics, and factor analysis, with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) being used for coding and analysis. Results indicate that 64% of the homeowners surveyed were interested in investing in renewable energy sources, and 72% were interested in energy efficiency measures. Additionally, findings suggest a moderate level of interest (58%) among homeowners in investing in renewable energy sources and that this is positively associated with their perception of the market value of green buildings. Furthermore, homeowners with higher income and education levels tend to be more interested in investing in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures and perceive green buildings as having higher market value. This study provides insights into the factors that drive homeowners’ investment in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures, shedding light on the relationship between homeowners’ perceptions of the market value of green buildings and their interest in such investments.

Key Performance Indicators for Smart Energy Systems in Sustainable Universities

Sustainable campus management includes energy-saving measures and waste reduction and has become important to many universities, being part of the institution’s societal responsibility. Smart energy systems (SESs), as part of campus energy management, can bring many benefits, including increased efficiency, reduced energy consumption, reduced emissions, increased reliability, and real-time control, and facilitate the integration of the renewable energy systems (RES). Despite the growing interest in energy efficiency and for the initiatives and projects to implement SESs, there are no universally accepted standards for assessing the performance of SESs, with most techniques being dedicated to subsystems. A KPI (key performance indicator) framework for evaluating the SESs’ performance from university campuses is proposed, starting from the current findings and priorities from the scientific literature, energy standards, legislation, and university rankings. The framework can support the implementation, operation, and evaluation of the SESs from university campuses, based on SES requirements and the stakeholders’ goals. Unlike previously developed solutions, the framework is focused not only on the technical side of SESs but also on the role that education, research, and innovation should have in sustainable development, making universities key contributors to achieving these goals.

What is stopping energy efficiency in Russia? Exploring the confluence of knowledge, negligence, and other social barriers in the Krasnodar Region

A growing interest in energy efficiency and energy saving from academic researchers and practitioners is notable in many emerging economies, including Russia. Social barriers hinder the transition toward a more energy-efficient economy in the residential sector and for small businesses because of negligence for new energy-efficient technologies, whereas in large corporations, managers’ and employees’ opportunistic behavior in the management system creates social barriers. This study contributes to the literature by suggesting an approach to study social barriers for energy efficiency longitudinally through a mixed survey of small groups from the same social strata. We evaluated the method proposed in Russia between 2013 and 2019. Each year, the authors surveyed respondents ranging from 94 to 120 (751 respondents in total), employing a method described in the Krasnodar Krai of Northern Caucasus (Krasnodar Territory). The study reveals formidable knowledge barriers and no evidence of positive dynamics. To overcome these barriers, companies need to introduce internal educational policies to introduce energy management systems. The authors present results and conclusions that can help foster similar research programs in transition economies and help to avoid common mistakes while setting up state energy efficiency and conservation policies.

Energy Efficient Approaches by Retrofitting Heat Pumps Water Heating System for a University Dormitory

With the cost of energy rising, the value of conservation grows. Interest in energy efficiency could be a sound investment or a necessary public policy. Heat pump systems provide economical alternatives of recovering heat from different sources for use in various applications. The objective of this study is to present the strategic approach on the energy efficient analysis of the water heating system retrofitted by applying a heat pump system in the dormitory of a university. Energy savings were determined by comparing field measurements of water consumption, water temperature and power consumption of the overall system before (electric resistance heating system) and after (heat pump heating system) the implementation of this project. Furthermore, the building energy simulation code (eQuest) has been applied to verify and predict the long-term energy consumption for both water heating systems. The results from energy modelling revealed the good agreement for energy simulation and field measurement data and the improvement of energy efficiency and energy savings could be achieved satisfactorily by retrofitting of a heat pump system. The energy conversion efficiency of hot water for energy consumption at 0.63 (Mcal/Mcal) could be achieved after the application of heat pump water heating system. It also presented the annual saving about USD 20,000 (NTD 600,000) for the dorm by using a heat pump heating system under the electrical billing rate of Taiwan.

Assesmeent of casual relationships between determinants of energy efficiency of the country in the context of the implementation of the European Green Deal Policy

Introduction. The growing interest in energy efficiency and energy dependence of countries stimulates the scientific community to explore and analyze the main determinants that influence changes in relevant processes. In particular, the generally accepted Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 include seven goals focused on available energy resources and energy efficiency through the development of green energy and clean technologies. In addition, in 2019, the EU and Ukraine began implementing the «European Green Agreement», which aimed to transition to a carbon-neutral economy and increase energy efficiency.The aim of the study is to analyze the impact of key determinants on energy efficiency policy of the national economy in the context of integration of the European Green Agreement.Research methods. It is necessary to note the main tools that were involved in the bibliometric analysis: databases Scopus and Web of Science (to analyze the trends of publishing activities); VOSviewer (to visualize the results of meta-analysis). The study used the Granger causality test to verify hypothesis on the casual relationships between the selected indicators. Data from the following databases were used: Eurostat, Ukrstat and the European Environment Agency.Results. The obtained results confirmed the bidirectional causality between energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as the unidirectional causality between greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency.Perspectives. Requires further research on the developing of effective instruments for activating the green investment market.

Study of Energy Efficiency Upgradation and Investment Risk

It was about 60 years ago when electricity was first introduced in Bhutan and today, more than 99.97 percent of households are electrified. Since electricity is superior to other form of energy, everybody prefers it. The electricity demand is increasing rapidly with development in all fronts. Distribution system are currently experiencing rapid changes in domestic load growth. With increasing domestic electricity consumption, Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) recognizes the importance of energy management and reduction at the consumer end to further minimize carbon emission and to increase the exports. While achieving 100 percent electrification of Bhutan, the increased consumer reduces the export, reducing the total revenue generated. The study identifies possible barriers of energy efficiency in domestic and industrial sectors. The lack of policy framework is one of the main reasons for the decline in interest in energy efficiency. The government subsidy is another cause of the same. This in turn led to negligence of Energy Efficiency (EE) programs by the consumers. On the contrary, consumers feel that the cost of energy is high, despite the fact that urban dwellers' expenditure capacity and productivity upgradation potential are also high. Based on a case study of residential and commercial buildings in the Phuntsholing region, as well as industrial sectors in Pasakha, this paper examines the metrics needed to make energy efficiency upgrade decisions. The study finds respondents were more likely to choose equipment that suited their budget rather than those that are energy efficient. Another big impediment to investment in energy efficiency in the region is a lack of energy efficiency awareness and information.

A Review of Energy Management Assessment Models for Industrial Energy Efficiency

The necessity to ensure energy efficiency in the industries is of significant importance to attain reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions. Energy management is one of the effective features that ensure energy efficiency in the industries. Energy management models are the infancy in the industrial energy domain with practical guidelines towards implementation in the organizations. Despite the increased interest in energy efficiency, a gap exists concerning energy management literature and present application practices. This paper aims to methodologically review the energy management assessment models that facilitate the assessment of industrial energy management. In this context, the minimum requirements model, maturity model, energy management matrix model, and energy efficiency measures characterization framework are discussed with implications. The study concludes with interesting propositions for academia and industrial think tanks delineating few further research opportunities.

Younger vs. older homeowners in building energy-related renovations: Learning from the Portuguese case

There is still a little recognition in policies that homeowners cannot be assumed as one homogeneous group when it comes to their decision for energy-saving renovation. The interest in energy efficiency varies among these homeowners depending not only on personal and contextual factors but also on everyday life activities and social practices. Some studies suggest that the homeowner’s life stage have a significant role in shaping this interest. This study aims to understand the influence of the homeowner’s age on the motivation for energy-related renovations of Portuguese owner-occupied single-family buildings and how this age is linked to the home-related and social practices that may encourage these renovations. A survey and a structured observation method were used. The younger Portuguese homeowners seem to be more environmentally conscious and adopt “little-by-little” energy renovations, even if less visible to the community. For the older, despite higher incomes, usual motivational arguments do not seem to work. If energy-related renovations are associated to some particular issues about aesthetics, indoor comfort conditions and sentimental meanings given to the home, these renovations are more likely to happen. However, both can be influenced by key moments in their life that trigger the renovation process.

Virtual Machine Placement Algorithm for Energy Saving and Reliability of Servers in Cloud Data Centers

Since cloud data centers operating from thousands to tens of thousands of servers consume enormous amount of power, there is a strong interest in energy efficiency. With virtualization technology, a server can accommodate multiple virtual machines. Once a server is running, it consumes a high amount of power even if the utilization is low, so placing as many virtual machines on a few servers as possible is desirable to save power. On the other hand, in a highly integrated environment, the heat generated from servers can cause a heat island. High-temperature environment can cause serious problems with the reliability of the servers, so the virtual machine should be placed in consideration of this. For resolving the problems, this paper proposes a virtual machine placement algorithm for energy saving considering server reliability. According to the performance evaluation, the proposed algorithm shows the similar or better level of power consumption as the existing methods, while it achieves the target server reliability and no heat islands generated.

Greener households? the effectiveness of smart meters in reducing energy consumption levels in the Dach region

With public opinion shifting to a believe in climate change in the early 2000s the interest in energy efficiency has been increasing. EU Directives set the goal of deploying smart meters if cost efficient for providing more detailed energy consumption. The main goal is to better inform consumers and to give individual households the power to change possibly energy wasting behaviours. This paper evaluates through a literature review the effectiveness of intelligent electricity metering systems with a focus on the DACH region, the provision of different types of feedback and its persistence. It can be concluded that energy feedback enabled by smart meters can lead to savings in the range of 0% to 4.5% in this region. If feedback is provided continuously savings persist. However, several aspects have to be considered to ensure effectiveness of smart meter deployment.

Optimized Design of Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting Systems for Waste Heat Recovery from Exhaust Pipes

With the increasing interest in energy efficiency and resource protection, waste heat recovery processes have gained importance. Thereby, one possibility is the conversion of the heat energy into electrical energy by thermoelectric generators. Here, a thermoelectric energy harvesting system is developed to convert the waste heat from exhaust pipes, which are very often used to transport the heat, e.g., in automobiles, in industrial facilities or in heating systems. That is why a mockup of a heating is built-up, and the developed energy harvesting system is attached. To build-up this system, a model-based development process is used. The setup of the developed energy harvesting system is very flexible to test different variants and an optimized system can be found in order to increase the energy yield for concrete application examples. A corresponding simulation model is also presented, based on previously developed libraries in Modelica®/Dymola®. In the end, it can be shown—with measurement and simulation results—that a thermoelectric energy harvesting system on the exhaust pipe of a heating system delivers extra energy and thus delivers a contribution for a more efficient usage of the inserted primary energy carrier.

빌딩의 지속가능 에너지환경 분석 및 평가를 위한 기초 연구 : 주거용 건물의 에너지환경 실적정보를 중심으로

최근 건물의 에너지 소비량이 전체 에너지 소비량의 약 20.5%를 차지하면서 건물의 에너지 고효율과 저소비에 대한 관심이 높이지고 있다. 또한 에너지 분석 및 평가에 다양한 연구가 이루어지고 있다. 건물의 초기설계 단계에서 에너지 분석 및 평가를 수행하고 적용할 경우 매우 효과적인 것으로 알려져 있다. 그러나 초기설계 단계에서는 창면적비, 외피면적 등 개괄적인 수준의 정보를 이용하여 에너지성능을 평가하기 때문에 자재 및 설비 등의 상세정보가 포함된 설계를 기준으로 평가하는 실시설계 단계의 결과와 많은 차이를 보일 수밖에 없다. 지금까지 대부분의 연구들은 건물에 설치되는 자재 및 설비 등에 대한 상세정보가 명확해지는 실시설계 단계에서의 분석 및 평가에 관한 것으로 초기설계 단계에서 이들 정보를 보완하는 연구는 미흡하다. 따라서 건물의 생애주기 동안 발생되는 에너지환경 정보를 구축하여 확률/통계적 방법으로 초기설계 단계에서 분석/평가에 정확한 정보를 제공할 수 있다면 에너지환경 분석의 정확성을 향상 시킬 수 있을 것이다. 그러나 아직까지 국내에서 에너지 사용에 대한 실적정보가 구축된 사례가 없다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 에너지환경 실적정보 구축을 위해 에너지환경 분석에 대해 고찰을 수행하고 분석하였다. 그리고 연구의 결과로 건물의 생애주기 정보 구축에 활용할 수 있는 정보분류체계와 정보 개념모델, 그리고 에너지환경 정보의 취득 및 제공을 위한 서비스 개념모델을 제시하여 향후 실적정보 시스템 개발 연구의 기초 자료로 활용하도록 하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 실적정보 지원 관리시스템 구축에 활용되어 초기설계 단계에서 입력정보를 보완하여 분석/평가의 신뢰성을 높일 수 있을 것이다. 만약 실적정보가 구축된다면 초기설계 단계에서 에너지환경 분석 및 평가를 위한 확률/통계 혹은 인공지능 등의 방법에 학습데이터로 활용될 수 있을 것이다. The energy consumption of buildings is approximately 20.5% of the total energy consumption, and the interest in energy efficiency and low consumption of the building is increasing. Several studies have performed energy analysis and evaluation. Energy analysis and evaluation are effective when applied in the initial design phase. In the initial design phase, however, the energy performance is evaluated using general level information, such as glazing area and surface area. Therefore, the evaluation results of the detailed design stage, which is based on the drawings, including detailed information of the materials and facilities, will be different. Thus far, most studies have reported the analysis and evaluation at the detailed design stage, where detailed information about the materials installed in the building becomes clear. Therefore, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the energy environment analysis if the energy environment information generated during the life cycle of the building can be established and accurate information can be provided in the analysis at the initial design stage using a probability / statistical method. On the other hand, historical data on energy use has not been established in Korea. Therefore, this study performed energy environment analysis to construct the energy environment historical data. As a result of the research, information classification system, information model, and service model for acquiring and providing energy environment information that can be used for building lifecycle information of buildings are presented and used as the basic data. The results can be utilized in the historical data management system so that the reliability of analysis can be improved by supplementing the input information at the initial design stage. If the historical data is stacked, it can be used as learning data in methods, such as probability / statistics or artificial intelligence for energy environment analysis in the initial design stage.

A study on applicability of Prony’s method to the analysis of the fault characteristics in low voltage DC distribution system

AbstractAs an area of interest in energy efficiency in power systems, low voltage DC (LVDC) distribution system has elicited attention as a potential solution. This system is closely associated with the increase of distributed generations, as well as digital loads. Until now, however, the related standards and research remain insufficient to commercialize the LVDC distribution system. In particular, the establishment of the protection schemes for LVDC distribution systems is the primary task because it can affect the overall aspects, including reliability of the system. For the establishment of reliable protection schemes, the fault characteristics of LVDC distribution system must be identified precisely in a practical system. Thus, this paper shows that Prony’s method can be used to analyze the fault characteristics of LVDC distribution system. For this purpose, the fault characteristics are theoretically analyzed first. The analysis results are then verified by using ElectroMagnetic Transients Program (...

Energy Efficiency Evaluation of Manufacturing Systems by Considering Relevant Influencing Factors

Recent developments show an increasing interest in energy efficiency of different stakeholders like industry, customers and legislation. Against this background the paper provides insight of how a data based energy evaluation on shop floor level could help to evaluate the energy performance of comparable manufacturing systems and will provide incipient stages for improvement. The approach for efficiency evaluation is mainly based on residual analyzing of multiple linear regression models. Additionally through coefficient standardization the influencing factors on the energy performance will get quantified and therefore directly identify fields of improvement.

Unlocking Energy Efficiency in Small Commercial Buildings through Mechanical Contractors

AbstractAlthough buildings smaller than 4,645 m2 account for nearly half of the energy used in U.S. commercial buildings, energy-efficiency programs to date have primarily focused on larger buildings. Stakeholder interviews conducted during a scoping study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) indicated interest in energy efficiency from the small commercial building sector, provided solutions are simple and of low cost. To address this need, an energy management package (EMP) was developed to deliver energy management to small commercial buildings via HVAC contractors, because they already serve these clients and the transaction cost to market would be reduced. This energy-management approach is unique from, but often complementary to, conventional quality maintenance or retrofit-focused programs targeting the small commercial segment. This paper presents an overview of the EMP, the business model to deliver it, and preliminary demonstration findings from a pilot use of the EMP. Results from th...

Current Energy Position of New York State Wastewater Treatment Facilities

In 2008, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) published the Statewide Assessment of Energy Use by the Municipal Water and Wastewater Sector documenting 2003/2004 energy use at New York State wastewater facilities. Since the publication of these data, interest in energy efficiency and energy generation has grown considerably. Survey data indicated that a third of the respondents had completed capital projects to reduce energy use, and 65% indicated that they have future energy projects planned. At the same time, regulatory and technology changes such as tighter nutrient limits have added to many plants' electrical demands. This research assesses the magnitude of energy performance shifts over the past 10 years based on the net effect of efficiency gains, increased electrical production, and increased process equipment loads. In facilities larger than 75 mgd, an overall trend toward increased average electrical energy consumption was observed, with recent implementation of nutrient removal being the most significant factor in this trend. Small- and medium-sized facilities (less than 75 mgd) appear to be slightly improving their energy performance based on analysis of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)-normalized energy metrics (kilowatt-hours per pound of BOD). Water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) with more developed energy approaches were more likely to have completed capital projects, operational optimization, and building-related improvements to reduce energy use. This title belongs to WERF Research Report Series ISBN: 9781780407784 (eBook)

Multifunctional Environmental Energy Tower: A Case Study of an Innovative System for Renewable Energy Exploitation

In a context of increasing interest in energy efficiency, the attention to the environmental quality is bringing the city of the future to be structured on energy smart grids for electricity, heat and natural gas production and distribution. The Multifunctional Environmental Energy Tower intends to be considered as a node in the future Smart Grid of the borough “Rome EUR”, to decrease the primary energy consumption from fossil fuels, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to maximize the energy production from renewable sources, as required by the European Union objectives at 2020. Renewable energy generation systems are integrated in a single vertically developed building, where energy is mainly produced from waste in integration with thermal and electrical energy storage systems, to create an intelligent tower combining and meeting together energy demand and supply.This integrated system allows to overcome some problems related to the renewable energy sources usage: their non-programmability, the land occupation and consumption, the social acceptance and the imbalances in the electricity grid. The designed building produces electricity for the grid, ensuring the air conditioning for Acea's company utilities and to feed the existing heating district network located in “Torrino-Mezzocammino” district within “Rome Eur” borough.The architectural components were designed to link the architectural view and the functional aspects, because its location within the roman roads net developing from the “Grande Raccordo Anulare” (GRA) the tower is configured as a totem of energy efficiency and technological innovation.

The concept and evaluation of demand side programmes

The concern of utilities about meeting energy demand and the customers' interest in energy efficiency have resulted in the development of the demand side management (DSM) concept. DSM deals with the planning, implementation, and monitoring of those activities that change the time pattern and magnitude of customers' load curve. This is done by adopting efficient technologies and processes that can be directly substituted for less efficient ones and also managerial techniques and alternative energy sources like co–generation resulting in significant overall reductions in energy use. This paper discusses the conceptual framework of DSM and its evaluation for electricity conservation and load management. It identifies the issues by describing the general mechanisms by which DSM programmes effect load shape change and balance the needs of utility and customer.

Non-linear friction modelling and simulation of long pneumatic transmission lines

Dynamic modelling and numerical implementation strategies for fluid transmission lines have been studied thoroughly, mainly for the application in hydraulic pipeline networks. Recent interest in energy efficiency has seen a resurgence of this field for compressed air networks, with impact on manufacturing processes, simulation of pneumatic drive components, and other theoretical analysis applications. The effects of long tubes connecting system components are often neglected to increase computational speed and reduce model size. This document highlights existing modelling approaches from practice as well as from fluid dynamic theory. Existing approaches for hydraulic transmission lines are adapted to their use for pneumatic tubes. A low-order model is derived capable to predict the transient behaviour of pressure and mass flow rate distribution within the tube. The model accounts for non-linear turbulent flow conditions, and is designed to be compatible with signal-flow simulation programmes, increasing its usability in large-scale industrial settings. It is numerically well conditioned, and all parameters are determined by physical or empirical relationships. Both its transient and quasi-stationary behaviour are validated against experimental results.