Related Energy Consumption Research Articles

Economic and Environmental Aspects of Applying the Regeneration of Spent Moulding Sand

This article presents issues related to the rational management of foundry sand in the context of sustainable development. Attention was drawn to the need to take appropriate measures to protect available natural deposits of good foundry sands in terms of their depletion. The main objective of the analyses undertaken was to find out whether more expensive but more efficient thermal regeneration can compensate for the higher energy consumption in relation to mechanical regeneration of spent moulding sand with an organic binder. This aspect was considered from the point of view of the multiple operations performed to clean the grain matrix from the spent binder, taking into account the direct and indirect costs of the process. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the mechanical and thermal regeneration of spent moulding sand on equipment offered by an exemplary manufacturer. Attention was drawn to the successively increasing price of the regeneration process. When analysing the grain matrix recovery process for sustainability reasons, attention was drawn to an important factor in grain matrix management related to its yield in different regeneration methods. Based on an analysis of the costs of regenerating 1 tonne of spent moulding sand, it was concluded that, in the long term, thermal regeneration, which is more expensive due to the cost of equipment and energy consumption, can offset the outlay incurred. Sand consumption was found to be 4.6 times higher by mechanical regeneration in the case studied. At the same time, the grain matrix after thermal regeneration was found to have significantly better and more stable technological parameters in subsequent sand mould preparation cycles. The reproducibility and stability of the technological process can also be an important component of economic growth as part of sustainable development.

Optimizing solar powered electrokinetic remediation of chromium contaminated groundwater: One step closer to a sustainable solution

Electrokinetic remediation (EKR) presents a promising solution for addressing soil and groundwater contamination challenges. However, practical viability is hindered by significant energy consumption and related expenses, necessitating a comprehensive sustainability approach beyond solely adopting renewable energy and low-carbon sources. This study aims to merge innovative solar-powered systems with a risk-based evaluation strategy for tackling chromium-contaminated groundwater, providing valuable insights into EKR economically viable and applicable approaches. Through the integration of environmental and electrical engineering expertise, this study introduces the Continuous Solar-powered Electrokinetic Remediation (CSER) system and risk-based energy efficiency (REF) evaluation approach, addressing intermittency issues while optimizing energy generation and minimizing costs. Experimental results demonstrate removal efficiencies ranging from 29.85% to 84.26%, highlighting the impact of intermittent current, voltage boosters, and electrolyte selection on risk reduction and energy consumption. While intermittent current intensifies the focusing phenomenon and reduces contaminant migration, it may offer promising results in specific cases, such as observed in the EK2 experiment. Conversely, the EK3 results reveal that the integration of conventional solar power with a voltage booster may enhance removal rates but often leads to unfavorable outcomes in risk reduction considering related higher energy consumption. However, CSER, with its utilization of constant current, proves more efficient in power generation, risk reduction, and energy usage compared to other systems. Integration of such a system with cost-effective and environmentally friendly chemical agents could significantly increase the REF index while minimizing related costs, thereby shifting EKR remediation techniques towards sustainable solutions for contaminated groundwater worldwide.

Determination of the resistance to motion of a cargo train when driving without a drive

The issue related to the motion resistance of a rail vehicle is very important for energy, environmental and related energy consumption of the vehicle as well as vehicle performance with dynamic points. The latter aspect applies in particular to traction vehicles. The article presents several models of resistance to movement of a freight train used by various railway authorities, for Polish and foreign rolling stock. The resistance values obtained from the models were verified against the tested freight train carrying aggregate. On the basis of the records from the locomotive recorder, linear models of speed changes over time and coasting paths (without drive) were determined. On the basis of the values obtained from the models of resistance to movement of a freight train, the paths of coasting to stop the train were determined on the basis of the UIC 544-1 card, which were related to the analyzed freight train.

Revisiting the relationships between energy consumption, economic development and urban size: A global perspective using remote sensing data

Existing methods of measuring energy consumption require complex statistics and computing. A real-time and globally applicable approach for comparing energy consumption across different cities is still lacking. Additionally, the nonlinear relationships and varying thresholds of energy consumption in relation to economic activities and urbanization remain unconfirmed. This study aims to fill these gaps by utilizing Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (NPP-VIIRS) nighttime light data in 2015 and a top-down approach based on a multiple regression model to examine energy consumption in global cities employing a redefined urban boundary. It also explores the accurate relationship between energy consumption, population density (as a proxy of urbanization), and per capita gross domestic product (GDP) across different regions and urban sizes using generalized additive models and regression models. High-resolution gridded population and GDP datasets covering the entire planet are utilized for this purpose. The study also estimates the development potentiality. The study yields followings outcomes: Firstly, the top 30 cities with the highest per capita energy consumption account for over 0.66% of the total per capita energy consumption of all cities. Secondly, in East Asia (EA) and Southeast Asia (SEA), the per capita energy consumption decreases when per capita GDP reaches $40,000 and $75,000, respectively, while it remains stable in cities located in Western Europe (WE) and North America (NA) as per capita GDP increases. Thirdly, the per capita energy consumption declines with increasing urban population density until reaching 10,000 person/km2, 22,000 person/km2, and 4000 person/km2 in EA, SEA, and NA, respectively. Fourthly, in Central Asia (CA), megacities can save over 100 Mbtu/population when per capita GDP increases by $1000 compared to big cities. This pioneering study provides a comparable investigation of energy consumption at the global city level, exploring its relationship with urbanization and economy by employing a unified calculation standard. It will facilitate long-term energy-saving policies and urban planning strategies.

Future changes in state-level population-weighted degree days in the U.S

This study analyzes future changes in population-weighted degree-days in 48 states over the contiguous U.S. Using temperature data from the NASA Earth Exchange Global Daily Downscaled Projects and population data from NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center, we computed population-weighted degree-days (PHDD and PCDD) and EDD (energy degree-days, PHDD + PCDD) over the 21st century, under a business-as-usual scenario. Results show that although the rising temperature is the primary driver, population distribution and projection play undeniable roles in estimating state-level heating and cooling demand. Throughout the 21st century, the U.S. is projected to experience a heating-to-cooling shift in energy demand, with the number of heating-dominant states dropping from 37 to 17 and the length of cooling seasons extending by 2 months (indicating a corresponding reduction in heating seasons) in all states by late-century. Meanwhile, a more homogenous EDD pattern is expected due to the increasing PCDD and decreasing PHDD, and the peak EDD month will switch from winter to summer in 15 out of 48 states. Our study provides a more nuanced understanding of future heating and cooling demand by examining both annual and monthly variations in the demands and how their relative dominance in a single framework may evolve over time. The study’s state-level perspective can provide valuable insights for policymakers, energy providers, and other stakeholders regarding the forthcoming shift in demand patterns and related building operations and energy consumption at both state and regional levels.

Reducing the Environmental Impact of Wireless Communication via Probabilistic Machine Learning

Machine learning methods are increasingly adopted in communications problems, particularly those arising in next generation wireless settings. Though seen as a key climate mitigation and societal adaptation enabler, communications related energy consumption is high and is expected to grow in future networks in spite of anticipated efficiency gains in 6G due to exponential communications traffic growth. To make meaningful climate mitigation impact in the communications sector, a mindset shift away from maximizing throughput at all cost and towards prioritizing energy efficiency is needed. Moreover, this must be adopted in both existing (without incurring further embodied carbon costs through equipment replacement) and future network infrastructure, given the long development time of mobile generations. To that end, we present summaries of two such problems, from both current and next generation network specifications, where probabilistic inference methods were used to great effect: using Bayesian parameter tuning we are able to safely reduce the energy consumption of existing hardware on a live communications network by 11% whilst maintaining operator specified performance envelopes; through spatiotemporal Gaussian process surrogate modeling we reduce the overhead in a next generation hybrid beamforming system by over 60%, greatly improving the networks' ability to target highly mobile users such as autonomous vehicles. The Bayesian paradigm is itself helpful in terms of energy usage, since training a Bayesian optimization model can require much less computation than, say, training a deep neural network.

Use of Pressure in Rotational Molding to Reduce Cycle Times: Comparison of the Thermomechanical Behavior of Rotomolded Reed/Polyethylene Composites

Rotational molding advantages include the production of a hollow part with no welding lines, either of small or big sizes, with no internal stresses and good surface details. However, the process is limited by the long cycle times, and its related high energy consumption. Different strategies can be followed to reduce such energy use. This work assesses the use of pressure inside the molds during the densification and cooling stages, finding reductions in overall cycle time of approximately 20%, because of the reduction in the heating time required but also to the increased cooling rate. The influence of such an approach on the production of composites with reed fibers has also been assessed, finding a similar trend towards cycle time reductions. The rotomolded samples’ thermomechanical and rheological behavior were determined, finding that viscosity was not affected due to the incorporation of air during the moldings; besides, the homogeneity of the composites increased due to the mold pressurization. The parts obtained show good aesthetics and good thermomechanical behavior along the entire temperature range studied, and particularly for 10% composites; higher fiber ratios should be prepared via melt compounding. Therefore, the mold pressurization allows us to reduce both oven and cooling times, which can be translated into an increase in productivity and a decrease in energy consumption, which are undeniably related to the increase in the products’ sustainability and cost.

Estimation of electrical energy consumed during the construction of residential houses in San Pedro Sula, Cortés, Honduras

There are several technical and non-technical losses in the transmission and consumption of electrical energy in Honduras. Currently, the electrical energy consumed in the construction of residential houses is not charged. It is necessary to estimate the amount of electricity consumed at the time of construction of residential houses in order to be able to charge for it. In this research, permits to install meters and the collection of national data on construction areas were carried out. The installation of CL100 FM2 meters in each house. And from the data collected, a formula was generated using a scatter plot that related electrical energy consumption to square meters built. This formula was applied locally and nationally to calculate the electrical energy consumed and not billed. The research also revealed the millions that ENEE did not receive because the meters were not installed. This research will serve to estimate the calculation of the electric energy to be used for the construction of a residential house and thus be able to charge at the time of obtaining a construction permit.

НАПРАВЛЕНИЯ ПОВЫШЕНИЯ ЭНЕРГОЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ СИСТЕМ ГЕНЕРАЦИИ ТЕПЛОВОЙ ЭНЕРГИИ В РАМКАХ ТЕПЛОЭНЕРГЕТИКИ РОССИИ

The article discusses the directions of improving the energy efficiency of heat generation systems involved in solving heat supply problems in the Russian Federation. The thermal energy generation system is considered as a set of subsystems of heat generating equipment, movement of gaseous media, preparation and transfer of coolant, reduction and disposal of emissions. Each subsystem consists of corresponding elements. The energy efficiency measures under consideration are analyzed in accordance with the impact on the impact element, other elements of the subsystem, the heat supply system as a whole, as well as other energy supply systems. Due to the importance of environmental problems, as well as the need to optimize the generation of thermal energy by reducing losses at the stages of production, transportation and consumption, elements related to the reduction and disposal of emissions, including thermal pollution of the environment, are allocated to a separate subsystem of the heat generation system. The necessity of a comprehensive consideration of the heat generation system, along with related power supply and energy consumption systems, is shown. Inventory of energy flows, comparison of the actual with the necessary and sufficient amount of energy allows you to determine the possible and necessary ranges of regulation of elements of subsystems of the thermal energy generation system. Due to the large technical wear of heat generation equipment and significant changes in the connected heat load, the need for the development of energy-efficient tasks for the design of reconstruction and new construction of heat generating facilities by start-up complexes is increasing. This makes it possible to achieve the objectives of improving energy efficiency after each stage of reconstruction or construction, as well as to carry out long-term and high-quality planning.

Simulation Model for Sustainable Management of the Air Cargo Screening Process

This article presents a novel model for the management of air cargo shipment screening. Previous research has focused solely on making the air cargo screening process as efficient as possible. These scientific papers did not look at the costs generated by the improper selection of technical equipment for the cargo handled. The challenge is to be able to complete the entire screening process in the expected time with the lowest possible energy consumption. This article presents a discrete-event simulation model for the balanced planning of air cargo screening. The innovation of this solution is the parallel analysis of process performance and energy consumption. The user receives two variables (energy consumption and process execution time) in relation to the number of cargo shipments handled. The user can therefore control the process by taking these variables into account. This will allow the user to find the right system configuration for the preferences desired. It is possible to strike a balance between achieved process efficiency and energy consumption. This approach has not been considered so far. Given that energy consumption constitutes 15% of operating costs at airports, this is an important issue that needs to be addressed.

A Three-Dimensional Full-Coverage Operation Path Planning Method for Plant Protection Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Based on Energy Consumption Modeling

With the rapid development of precision agriculture technology worldwide, plant protection unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been widely applied in the prevention and control of agricultural pests and diseases due to their advantages such as unrestricted terrain, strong maneuverability, hover capability, and high operational efficiency. In view of the fact that most of the current path planning methods for plant protection UAVs are mainly applicable to large fields with relatively flat terrain, and there is a lack of three-dimensional path planning methods applicable to hilly orchards, as well as a lack of intuitive evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of the paths by utilizing the amount of energy consumption, this paper proposes a three-dimensional (3D) path planning method for plant protection UAVs in hilly orchards. The method utilizes the three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of the operational area obtained from a realistic 3D model of the area, and determines the 3D operational path through the use of Boustrophedon Cellular Decomposition and the height variations of the operational area. Based on the induced power used by the plant protection UAV for flight and the power needed to overcome wind resistance, combined with the change of the load of the plant protection UAV and the supply situation, the relative energy consumption model of the plant protection UAV is constructed. Then, by optimizing the operational heading angle (1–180°), the 3D path with the minimum relative energy consumption is obtained. Through a simulation test, it is demonstrated that the path with the minimum relative energy consumption (operational heading angle of 133°) reduces the average relative energy consumption by 62.44% and 47.21% compared to the path with the maximum relative energy consumption (operational heading angle of 51°) and the average relative energy consumption, respectively. This proves the feasibility of the proposed path planning method in hilly orchard environments and provides a reference for the application of plant protection UAVs in such orchards.

Industrial wastewater in the context of European Union water reuse legislation and goals

Water pollution and freshwater scarcity are growing problems not only in Europe but all over the world. Water reuse contributes significantly to water sustainability and brings many environmental, economic, and social benefits. The European Union (EU) has recently been addressing water-related problems with great commitment. Unfortunately, the total production of wastewater in the European Union is unknown. The situation in the EU is not satisfactory, as only 2.5% of treated wastewater is reused. The first contribution of this study is the estimation of the total amount of wastewater produced annually in the EU. It is estimated that half of this amount comes from industry, namely over 25,500 million m3. Therefore, this study aims to review and analyze the current state of the industrial wastewater (IWW) issue in the EU and to put it in the context of current EU legislation, targets, and water reuse policy. Moreover, since water reuse technologies are energy intensive, the focus is given to the techno-economic impact of IWW reuse. The energy consumption and investment costs in relation to the amount of water treated have been determined for filtration only, minimum liquid discharge (MLD), and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems. Reclaiming 80% of IWW would increase industrial energy consumption by only 4.1%, and investment costs would amount to only 1.5% of the EU GDP. Further, the assessment was focused on the paper & pulp industry, which is among the largest wastewater producers. Implementing efficient water reuse technology in this industry could mean up to 3,449 Mm3/year of reclaimed water.

Impact of nanofiltration pre-concentration prior to a combination of electrodialytic processes on the extraction of proteins from tofu whey

Tofu whey is a by-product of tofu production which represents a major challenge in the industry, considering treatments that must be applied before its disposal to reduce its environmental impact. Rich in nutrients, such as protein and minerals, tofu whey valorization represents an interesting alternative. In this study, the impact of a pre-concentration step by nanofiltration prior to coupled electrodialysis and electrodialysis with bipolar membrane (ED+EDBM) treatments on protein recovery was investigated. Tofu whey without concentration (1X) and volume concentration factors of 2X and 3X were used. The 3X condition allowed a protein recovery about 20 % higher than the 1X. Also, protein purity of the recovered fraction was similar for these three conditions, with an average value of 44.8 % (dry basis). The lowest relative energy consumption of 2.7 Wh/g of protein recovered was achieved with the 3X VCF; as the VCF increased, up to 3.5 times less energy was required to isolate the same amount of protein. The NF+ED+EDBM was efficient to recover the proteins with the highest molecular weights. Although the pre-concentration step improved protein recovery, yields are still low and should be increased by further optimization step.

Evaluation of the level of awareness of the inhabitants on the importance of the energy retrofitting of buildings: case study of Tlemcen (Algeria)

PurposeThis study aims to examine the awareness of the inhabitants regarding energy consumption in relation to comfort in Tlemcen and analyze the paths of influence and the effects of individual objective and subjective characteristic factors. This determines the factors' level of perception of the importance of energy retrofitting.Design/methodology/approachAs part of an exploratory empirical study, this paper further discusses accompanied survey data from a sample of 208 properties, through a triangulation of in-depth qualitative studies and quantitative studies developed and analyzed by SPSS software (the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences).FindingsAnalysis of the results of the survey shows that the respondents have a level of awareness on comfort linked to energy savings but they lack guidance and recourse to specialists. The conclusion is that resident awareness is crucial and beneficial and that the key socio-demographic characteristics to determine the perception factors are related to age, occupation, household size and time lived in the house.Originality/valueBy exploring some of the key insights from the survey, this research improves residents' perception of the importance of energy retrofitting in the residential sector, highlighting the importance of priorities. This influences public attitudes and contributes to raising awareness in order to provide useful results for developing, in future studies, motivational strategies for these inhabitants. The present research is expected to add value to existing studies academically and methodologically and provide policy guidance to policy makers and other energy efficiency (EE) practitioners in the Maghreb region and beyond.

Boosting CO2 absorption and desorption of biphasic solvent by nanoparticles for efficient carbon dioxide capture

Introduction of nanoparticles (NPs) in the solvent was treated an efficient route to enhance mass and heat transfer, therefore, it was a promising strategy to boost carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption and desorption, especially for the biphasic solvent with weak absorption rate and low heat capacity. Herein, powder TiO2 and SiO2 with nanoscale was selected to prepare nanofluid for CO2 capture, based on DMPA-NHD biphasic solvent. The stability of nanofluid and the effect of NPs on CO2 absorption–desorption, phase-splitting was comprehensively explored in this work. Experimental results revealed that 0.06 wt% dosage of 30 nm TiO2 presented excellent performance for CO2 absorption. The liquid film resistance decreased by 11.8% after introducing NPs, therefore, the maximum mass transfer coefficient was 1.88 × 10-10 mol·cm−2·s−1·Pa (at 30 °C), increasing by 30% than the blank. In addition, 0.06 wt% dosage of 50 nm SiO2 leaded to significant promotion for CO2 desorption, with the maximum desorption rate at 3.9 mmol/min, and the desorption energy consumption reduced by 9.5% compared with blank case. Importantly, introduction of NPs had no significant effect on the phase splitting behavior, according to the time-profile phase-splitting measurements. The advantage influence of NPs was well validated by current DEEA-AEEA and MEA-sulfolane biphasic solvent. Furthermore, the bench-scale CO2 absorption and desorption evaluation revealed that the relative energy consumption was respectively reduced by 15.9% and 10.0%, after introduction of 50-Si-NPs and 30-Ti-NPs.

The dual hypothesis of homeostatic body weight regulation, including gravity-dependent and leptin-dependent actions.

Body weight is tightly regulated when outside the normal range. It has been proposed that there are individual-specific lower and upper intervention points for when the homeostatic regulation of body weight is initiated. The nature of the homeostatic mechanisms regulating body weight at the lower and upper ends of the body weight spectrum might differ. Previous studies demonstrate that leptin is the main regulator of body weight at the lower end of the body weight spectrum. We have proposed that land-living animals use gravity to regulate their body weight. We named this homeostatic system the gravitostat and proposed that there are two components of the gravitostat. First, an obvious mechanism involves increased energy consumption in relation to body weight when working against gravity on land. In addition, we propose that there exists a component, involving sensing of the body weight by osteocytes in the weight-bearing bones, resulting in a feedback regulation of energy metabolism and body weight. The gravity-dependent homeostatic regulation is mainly active in obese mice. We, herein, propose the dual hypothesis of body weight regulation, including gravity-dependent actions (= gravitostat) at the upper end and leptin-dependent actions at the lower end of the body weight spectrum. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Causes of obesity: theories, conjectures and evidence (Part II)'.

Air infiltration and related building energy consumption: A case study of office buildings in Changsha, China

Past studies reveal that air infiltration through the building envelope and its impact on the indoor environment and energy consumption are significantly influenced by climate characteristics. However, little relevant information is available for buildings in southern China, where the building design traditionally follows a philosophy of being open and shaded. The present study employs both experimental measurements and numerical simulations to investigate the airtightness of buildings in Hot Summer and Cold Winter (HSCW) climate region of southern China and the associated energy consumption. The measurements and simulations are based on a typical office building in Changsha. Measurement results show that the air change rate of six tested spaces at the natural pressure difference ranges from 0.10 to 0.30 h−1 with an average of 0.17 h−1 in summer, and from 0.09 to 0.32 h−1 with an average of 0.16 h−1 in winter. The operation of the air-conditioning system affects largely air infiltration, and each unit change in setpoint air temperature can result in an average of one-third or more change in air infiltration rate. Simulation results show that a decrease in air infiltration rate from 0.17 h−1 to 0.01 h−1 reduces the infiltration-related cooling energy consumption from 14.29 to 0.75 kWh/m2·year and heating energy consumption from 8.20 to 0.39 kWh/m2·year. The same change in the setpoint air temperature of air-conditioning system in summer and winter results in different infiltration-related energy consumption. The findings would contribute to an improved energy simulation and assessment of buildings in southern China.

Assessing the energy efficiency of irrigation pump systems

Abstract. The operating modes of pump units play a crucial role in determining the energy consumption of irrigation systems. Thus, the necessity of performing qualitative and quantitative assessments of the energy efficiency of such systems is of significant importance. This paper proposes a method, newly established by authors, for accomplishing such an assessment. Using dimensionless criteria from Dimensional Analysis (as outlined in earlier publications), we propose a method to determine the specific energy consumption (ev) for a given flow rate, regulated by either VFD or throttle flow control, which are commonly used in practice. The specific relative energy consumption is depicted as an exponential relationship with four other criteria, each expressed relatively. The exponents are determined depending on the type of pump system flow rate control method applied. This energy exponent is also expressed in the dimensionless form obtained depending on the main parameters of the pump and pipe system. In this regard, two energy efficiency coefficients are introduced – of the pump and pipe system . Results obtained after performing numerical studies of a pump system, consisting of Bulgarian double-suction pumps, are presented.

Evaluation of the energy efficiency of electric vehicle drivetrains under urban operating conditions

In electric vehicles, as in hybrids vehicles, a very important factor affecting the energy efficiency of the powertrain is the ability to use the regenerative braking energy. Depending on the settings available in electric vehicles, the driver can choose different modes of operation: switch off the regenerative braking mode altogether, select the intensity of regenerative braking, or leave the control system in automatic mode. The last mode is often the only one available on eclectic vehicles, so the driver cannot decide whether to switch off or increase intensity of the regenerative braking. This paper presents a new method for evaluating the energy efficiency of electric vehicle powertrains under urban operating conditions. The presented method uses a procedure for mapping the operating conditions allowing to determine the reference level of energy consumption in relation to those recorded during the identifica-tion tests. Identification tests were carried out in the Tri-City area using electric vehicles of different purposes and operating parameters. Performed tests allowed to evaluate the regenerative braking efficiency of tested vehicle, which varies over a relatively wide range, for vehicle A from 33% to 77%, for vehicle B from 27% to 55% and for vehicle C from 36% to 58%. It can be concluded that one of the main factors determining the regenerative braking efficiency is the level of state of charge of the accumu-lator and the management algorithm used by the vehicle for controlling this parameter.

Predicting Building Energy Demand and Retrofit Potentials Using New Climatic Stress Indices and Curves

Building energy requalification in Italy and Europe has been much discussed in recent years due to the high percentage of existing buildings with poor energy performance. In this context, it is useful to obtain a user-friendly and fast tool to predict the thermal energy demand (TED) for space conditioning and the related primary energy consumption (PEC) as a function of climatic stress. In this study, the SLABE methodology (simulation-based large-scale uncertainty/sensitivity analysis of building energy performance) is used to simulate representative Italian buildings, varying parameters such as geometry, envelope and HVAC (heating, ventilating and space conditioning) systems. MATLAB® in combination with EnergyPlus is used to analyze 200 buildings belonging to two structural types (multi-family buildings and apartment blocks) built in 1961–1975. Nine scenarios (as-built scenarios and eight retrofit ones) are investigated in 63 climatic locations. A regression analysis shows that the classical HDDs (heating degree days) approach cannot give an accurate prediction of TED because solar radiation is not accounted for. Thus, new climatic indices are developed alongside solar radiation, including the heating stress index (HSI), the cooling stress index (CSI) and the yearly climatic stress index (YCSI). The purpose of our work is to obtain climatic stress curves for the prediction of TED and PEC. Testing of this novel approach is performed by comparison with another building energy simulation tool, showing a low discrepancy, i.e., the coefficient of variation of the root mean square error is between 12% and 28%, which confirms certain reliability of the approach here proposed.