Framework for Energy Performance Measurement of Residential Buildings Considering Occupants’ Energy Use Behavior

Abstract

Buildings’ contribution to global final energy use is about 30%, which makes them a primary focus for implementing energy-efficient measures. Building energy efficiency is an important consideration for residential buildings due to the significant environmental impact of energy consumption and the rising cost of energy. Estimating and optimizing a building’s energy performance is an efficient method to reduce its environmental impact and cost. There exists a lack of accuracy in estimating the energy performance of a building due to approximations in the monitored data as well as a lack of consideration for occupants’ energy use behavior. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive framework that assists in accurately estimating building energy performance considering occupants’ energy use behavior. The framework proposed a scheme to collect occupant behavior data, such as occupancy patterns, appliance usage, and lighting conditions, through a living-lab setup and developing an occupants’ behavior model that was utilized for more accurate building energy modeling and performance analysis.

Keywords

• building energy performance
• occupants behavior modeling
• living-lab concept