Pursuit Of Energy Efficiency Research Articles

Prediction of building cooling load: an innovative design for GA-SVM and IG-SVM system for the estimation of hourly precision and computational fluctuation range

ABSTRACT Anticipating the loads that buildings will bear is a crucial strategy in the pursuit of energy efficiency and the reduction of emissions. In this paper, we introduce an interactive and comprehensive joint prediction model, specifically crafted to elevate the precision of forecasts related to building loads. The resultant Genetic Algorithm-Support Vector Machine (GA-SVM) prediction model is put into action to provide hourly predictions of cooling loads for buildings. In scenarios where the prediction of building cooling load (BCL) fluctuations becomes imperative, especially in the face of extreme weather conditions, the information granulation (IG) method is employed. The findings of this validation process unveil significant improvements. The coefficient of variation of root mean square error (CV-RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) for the GA-SVM model are reduced by 58.85% and 68.04%, respectively, when compared to the conventional SVM model. Furthermore, in a comparative analysis against three widely utilized prediction models, the SVM model demonstrates a reduction in CV-RMSE and MAPE ranging from 2.04% to 68.04%. The application of the joint prediction model showcases impressive results, with R 2 values ranging from 97.27% to 99.68%, MAPE ranging from 2.59% to 2.84%, and CV-RMSE ranging from only 0.0249 to 0.0319.

Comparative CFD Analysis of Angles of attack to increase aerodynamics properties

Abstract In the contemporary landscape, discussions of turbulence often lead to thoughts of incompressible fluids and their behaviour in nature. However, as the pursuit of energy efficiency and performance takes precedence in major aviation and automotive industries, safety and comfort remain achievable. Spoilers on sedan cars, designed to counteract lift and enhance grip, also increase drag. Aerofoils play a vital role in reducing drag while increasing lift force. This study compares three different angles of attack to identify the one that generates the best performance, based on its aerodynamic coefficients. In a world focused on ecological preservation and fuel efficiency, these studies become essential.

Causal effects of policy and occupant behavior on cooling energy

Rising energy consumption in buildings has prompted architectural engineers and policymakers to ask “what-if” questions in the pursuit of energy efficiency. Current simulation and machine learning methods rely primarily on correlations and associations necessitating causal inference techniques. In this research, a causal inferential approach combining double machine learning and domain knowledge using directed acyclic graphs is employed. The utility of this approach is demonstrated on the 2015 United States Residential energy consumption survey to evaluate the impact of energy policies and occupant behavior on cooling energy consumption. The results show that energy policies such as energy audits, proper insulation, access to interval data and Energy Star qualified windows significantly reduce energy use intensity (EUI). Additionally, air conditioning usage by occupants causally affects EUI. For instance, proper insulation reduces EUI by 5.603 kWh/m2 while changing static thermostat settings to automatic adjustments at certain times reduces EUI by 3.542 kWh/m2. This study suggests potential energy-saving policies for balanced building energy efficiency and functionality.

Effect of In Situ Heating on the Growth and Electrochromic Properties of Tungsten Trioxide Thin Films.

Electrochromism has emerged as a pivotal technology in the pursuit of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, spurring significant research efforts aimed at the creation of advanced electrochromic devices. Most electrochromic materials are used for smart window applications. However, current electrochromic materials have been applied to new energy vehicles, cell phone back covers, AR glasses, and so on. More application scenarios put forward more requirements for the color of the colored states. Choosing the right color change in the application will be the trend in the future. In this work, tungsten trioxide (WO3) thin films were prepared by adjusting the in situ heating temperature. WO3 with a crystalline structure showed excellent cyclic stability (5000 cycles), electrochromic performance (ΔT = 77.7% at 633 nm, CE = 37.1 cm2/C), relatively fast bleaching/coloring speed (20.0 s/19.4 s), and the darkest coloring effect (L* = 29.32, a* = 7.41, b* = -22.12 for the colored state). These findings offer valuable insights into the manipulation of smart materials and devices, contributing to the advancement of electrochromic technology.

Energy Efficient Wireless Signal Detection: A Revisit through the Lens of Approximate Computing

In the pursuit of energy efficiency in next-generation communication systems, approximate computing is emerging as a promising technique. In the proposed work, efforts are made to address the challenge of bridging the gap between the level of approximation and the Quality-of-Service (QoS) of the system. The application of approximate multiplication to wireless signal detection is explored systematically, illustrated by employing Truncated Multiplication (TM) on Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) detection. The irregularities induced by approximation in the multiplication operation employed in wireless signal detection are captured by the Approximate Multiplication Noise (AMN) model, which aids in the analysis of signal fidelity and resiliency of the system. The energy efficiency gains through approximation are highlighted in the approximation analysis. Signal fidelity analysis provides the capability to predict system output for varying levels of approximation, which aids in improving the stability of the system. The higher approximation levels are advantageous in low Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) regimes, whereas lower approximation levels prove beneficial in high SNR regimes.

Analytical Study on Mechanical Energy Recovery and Utilization of New Energy Vehicles

The pursuit of energy efficiency and sustainability in the automotive industry has become increasingly urgent in response to growing environmental concerns. Herein, this paper focuses on the critical challenge of energy dissipation in new energy vehicles, particularly during braking and suspension vibrations. The paper presents two innovative energy recovery solutions aimed at reducing energy losses and enhancing sustainability. In the realm of sustainable transportation, this study critically evaluates the optimization strategies for braking energy recovery in new energy vehicles. A key recommendation is the integration of a permanent magnet synchronous motor combined with an advanced fuzzy control system. Such an amalgamation not only heightens energy efficiency but also substantially extends the driving range of electric vehicles. Beyond braking energy, the research casts light on an often-overlooked energy source: the vibrational energy from vehicle suspensions. By introducing an innovative electromagnetic damper design coupled with the strategic incorporation of piezoelectric materials, the study unveils avenues to both improve suspension dynamics and transform vibrational energy into usable electrical power. While there are current technological and economic challenges, the ongoing innovations in the design and control processes of new energy vehicles highlight the profound potential within this domain. The insights offered in this context further emphasize the critical need to expand the horizons of sustainable transportation design and management approaches.

Investment Analysis for Energy Efficiency Management Systems in Industrial Refrigeration

Brazil has one of the least efficient industries in energy use when compared to other major world economies. Although it is among the largest producers of poultry in the world, the country has lost competitiveness. The pursuit of energy efficiency is in the Brazilian government plans, while it hasn't occurred effectively. This paper seeks to elucidate the requirements for creating an energy management system for the chicken slaughterhouse industry through a methodology to analyse the feasibility of implementing such system. This industry, in general, has not developed processes for energy management even after the rise of ISO 50001 in 2011. Presumably due to infeasibility to the creation of these systems. The country needs to invest in policies that promote energy efficiency, by proving the viability of investments such as energy monitoring systems or, for example, intervening in the industry through incentives.

Indoor Air Quality Analysis Using Recurrent Neural Networks: A Case Study of Environmental Variables

In the pursuit of energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact, adequate ventilation in enclosed spaces is essential. This study presents a hybrid neural network model designed for monitoring and prediction of environmental variables. The system comprises two phases: An IoT hardware–software platform for data acquisition and decision-making and a hybrid model combining short-term memory and convolutional recurrent structures. The results are promising and hold potential for integration into parallel processing AI architectures.

Chine : la Longue Marche vers la transition énergétique

Cette étude analyse l’évolution des dynamiques structurelles sous-tendant les émissions de CO 2 en Chine sur la période 1981-2015. Les progrès en efficacité énergétique sont le principal facteur qui a limité la puissance de l’effet d’échelle lié à la croissance économique. Entre 1981 et 2000, ils sont le fruit de la modernisation des équipements. À partir de 2001, de mauvaises performances énergétiques vont pousser les autorités centrales à adopter des politiques volontaristes, permettant une évolution du mix énergétique en faveur des énergies renouvelables. Cette tendance, couplée à la poursuite de l’efficacité énergétique, ont permis à la Chine, depuis 2011, d’engager un processus de transition énergétique.

TEACHING INNOVATION AND THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS IN ARCHITECTURE: LEARNING BUILDING SERVICES DESIGN FOR SMART AND ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS

Today’s buildings are evolving from structures comprising unchanging, static elements scantly able to interact with their surroundings, towards complex systemic compounds with an impact on the environs that entails more than mere anthropic alteration. In pursuit of energy efficiency and true sustainability, buildings must acquire the ability to interact as well as to generate synergies. The most prominent features of this approach are energy management and information flows which, intelligently designed, not only enhance buildings’ capabilities, but also introduce a significant change in their relationship with the surrounds (‘smart cities’) and its inhabitants. This new paradigm calls for revisiting undergraduate architectural instruction, adopting a more complex overview of energy use and management in the design process, regarding buildings as dynamic rather than static entities. The methodology focuses on creating learning environments that favour students’ participation in problem solving and assessment, encouraging teamwork based on case studies and stressing the connection between this new architecture, ICTs included, and social networks as participatory design tools. These ideas were implemented in a pilot learning experience conducted at the University of Seville for undergraduate students. The use of ICTs and the collaboration of non-academic experts were observed to further student promotion and projection beyond the academic environment and introduce them to the professional community.

The Clean Energy Package: Are its objectives always consistent?

On 30 November 2016, the European Commission published a proposal for a reform of energy markets titled Clean Energy for all Europeans, better known as the Winter Pack-age. Its aim is to speed up the integration of electricity markets in Europe and to further encourage the use of renewables and the pursuit of energy efficiency, while at the same time placing European consumers at the heart of this project. This Policy Brief sheds light on the Commission’s proposal - which runs to no less than 5000 pages - by examining its three major innovations and looking in depth at issues that remain unresolved in terms of pricing. Putting the consumer at the centre of the policy. In concrete terms, consumers must be able to participate more fully in the functioning of the electricity market, both as self-producers and as contributors to demand-side responses. Strengthening the governance of grids and markets. National capacity markets must be open to other Member States and to all technologies. The only exception is coal-fired power plants, the most polluting technology, which should be totally eliminated from the capacity markets in the long term. Improving the integration of renewables. The project puts an end to the priority of access to grids that has benefited renewables so far and recommends the eventual removal of production support mechanisms. The issue of electricity pricing appears to be inescapable given increasing inputs of decentralized renewable electricity that are destabilising the standard principle of electricity pricing at marginal cost. Alternatives - pricing at average cost or on the basis of capacity - will need to be explored. The central role of the carbon price and the implications of its insufficiently high level, which penalizes the competitiveness of low-carbon energies, are hidden. The reform of support mechanisms for renewables is no substitute for an ambitious carbon pricing policy.

Ionic Liquids as Lubricant Additives: A Review.

In pursuit of energy efficiency and durability throughout human history, advances in lubricants have always played important roles. Ionic liquids (ILs) are room-temperature molten salts that possess unique physicochemical properties and have shown great potential in many applications with lubrication as one of the latest. While earlier work (2001-2011) primarily explored the feasibility of using ILs as neat or base lubricants, using ILs as lubricant additives has become the new focal research topic since the breakthrough in ILs' miscibility in nonpolar hydrocarbon oils in early 2012. This work reviews the recent advances in developing ILs as additives for lubrication with an attempt to correlate among the cationic and anionic structures, oil-solubility, and other relevant physicochemical properties, and lubricating behavior. Effects of the concentration of ILs in lubricants and the compatibility between ILs and other additives in the lubricant formulation on the tribological performance are described followed by a discussion of wear protection mechanism based on tribofilm characterization. Future research directions are suggested at the end.

Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm to Dynamic Energy Management in Cloud Data Center

With the wide deployment of cloud computing data centers, the problems of power consumption have become increasingly prominent. The dynamic energy management problem in pursuit of energy‐efficiency in cloud data centers is investigated. Specifically, a dynamic energy management system model for cloud data centers is built, and this system is composed of DVS Management Module, Load Balancing Module, and Task Scheduling Module. According to Task Scheduling Module, the scheduling process is analyzed by Stochastic Petri Net, and a task‐oriented resource allocation method (LET‐ACO) is proposed, which optimizes the running time of the system and the energy consumption by scheduling tasks. Simulation studies confirm the effectiveness of the proposed system model. And the simulation results also show that, compared to ACO, Min‐Min, and RR scheduling strategy, the proposed LET‐ACO method can save up to 28%, 31%, and 40% energy consumption while meeting performance constraints.

Targeting utility customers to improve energy savings from conservation and efficiency programs

Electric utilities, government agencies, and private interests in the US have committed and continue to invest substantial resources – including billions of dollars of financial capital – in the pursuit of energy efficiency and conservation through demand-side management (DSM) programs. While most of these programs are deemed to be cost effective, and therefore in the public interest, opportunities exist to improve cost effectiveness by targeting programs to those customers with the greatest potential for energy savings. This article details an analysis of three DSM programs offered by three Florida municipal electric utilities to explore such opportunities. First, we estimate programs’ energy savings impacts; second, we measure and compare energy savings across subgroups of program participants as determined by their pre-intervention energy performance, and third, we explore potential changes in program impacts that might be realized by targeting specific customers for participation in the DSM programs. All three programs resulted in statistically significant average (per-participant) energy savings, yet average savings varied widely, with the customers who performed best (i.e., most efficient) before the intervention saving the least energy and those who performed worst (i.e., least efficient) before the intervention saving the most. Assessment of alternative program participation scenarios with varying levels of customer targeting suggests that program impacts could be increased by as much as 80% for a professional energy audit program, just over 100% for a high-efficiency heat pump upgrade program, and nearly 250% for an attic insulation upgrade program. Findings are directly relevant for utility program administrators seeking to improve program outcomes.

An Overview of Distributed Energy-Efficient Topology Control for Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

A wireless ad hoc network is composed of several tiny and inexpensive device such as wireless sensor networks (WSNs) which have limited energy. In this network energy, efficiency is one of the most crucial requirements. Data transmitting in minimum power level is one way of maximizing energy efficiency. Thus, transmission power level of nodes should be managed in a smart way to improve energy efficiency. Topology control is one of the main algorithms used in a wireless network to decrease transmission power level while preserving network connectivity. Topology control could improve energy efficiency by reasonably tuning the transmission power level while preserving network connectivity in order to increase network capacity and lifetime. In pursuit of energy efficiency and connectivity, nodes can be selfish and are conflicting with each other. Therefore to overcome the conflict, game theory is used to construct energy efficient topology, as well as minimizing energy consumption. In this paper, the main goal and most recent energy efficient topology control algorithms in WSNs and ad hoc network are classified and studied according to their specific goals.

Energy Efficiency in Regulated and Deregulated Markets

1. INTRODUCTION AND THESIS The efficient use of electricity is a moral and environmental concern of contested economic validity. Opponents argue that the pursuit of energy efficiency is the pursuit of economic inefficiency. Proponents counter that the pursuit of economic efficiency in the electricity sector is an environmental disaster due to market failures caused by environmental externalities and transaction costs. In the interests of brevity, this paper focuses solely on end-use efficiency, not generation or distribution efficiency. This paper takes the position that there is merit in the pursuit of end-use energy efficiency measures in the electricity sector. Those measures are often called demand side management or DSM. Energy efficiency measures can be effective tools to correct market failures and achieve environmental goals, both in regulated and deregulated markets. Although they are useful tools, energy efficiency measures are certainly not the only tools needed to correct these failures and achieve environmental goals. This paper also explores the effect of the new deregulatory era on the achievement of energy efficiency, arguing that this worthwhile goal can and should be kept. The new deregulated environment has created a different market for electricity, but one that still has problems from an environmental and an economic point of view. An effective policy must provide incentives to the actors who are best suited to overcome market failures in the new regulatory environment. Those incentives must be developed in a way that harmonizes energy efficiency policy with new environmental policies, particularly the development of emissions trading markets and renewable portfolio standards. Part Two of this paper defines energy efficiency. Although there are multiple, conflicting definitions of energy efficiency, here the term is used in a hybrid economic and environmental sense. That is, energy efficiency policies aim at setting social use of electricity at the level that would be set by consumers in a perfect market where price reflects the true social cost of electricity. Since that price does not exist, and cannot be ascertained precisely, energy efficiency measures seek to approximate it. Part Three identifies the relevant features of the regulated and deregulated eras. Deregulation does not signal the end of regulation in the electricity sector. It instead represents a new regulatory regime that requires an end to vertically integrated electric monopolies to allow a greater degree of competition, particularly in electricity generation. Distribution is still monopolized, often operated by a regulated non-profit corporation. Retail supply is also monopolized in most American jurisdictions. Thus, there is a substantial role for regulators in a deregulated electricity sector. However, energy efficiency measures developed in the regulated past of the electricity industry require re-examination and change during the new era of deregulation. After establishing what energy efficiency, regulation, and deregulation mean, Part Four examines the policy justifications for energy efficiency regulations. The underlying assumption of this section is that there has always been a role for environmental policy in the regulation of the electricity sector. Determining the optimal way to provide electricity has always been treated by our society as a multi-criteria problem because it is a political problem. The interests of capitalists, consumers, and those affected by the environmental disruption of electricity production are in conflict. Environmental considerations have always been, and will always be, a part of electricity policy. Most justifications for energy efficiency involve market imperfections, although energy security is often mentioned. The core question of any electricity policy in a capitalistic society is the optimal price for electricity. In both a regulated and deregulated market, private actors will step in, where there is sufficient profit, to pursue energy efficiency measures. …

Approaches to energy conservation management in beverage-related industries and their effectiveness

We report the conclusions of a detailed study of management methods used in breweries, distilleries, maltings and dairies, and their relative effectiveness in achieving significant savings. The study assessed the significance of both the size of the organization and its use of energy cost-centres, targetting, monitoring and specific energy variances to the achievement of substantial energy cost savings. A high proportion of larger organizations employed one or more accounting techniques in the pursuit of energy efficiency. The use of targetting procedures, especially associated with a cost-centre analysis was significant in reducing the specific energy content of production costs, but higher than median costsavings for the sample as a whole was more frequently achieved in business where monitoring at monthly intervals (or more frequently) and especially where regular meetings of an energy management group or ‘panel’ was taking place within the firm.