Energy savings versus costs of implementation for demand side management strategies within an energy-efficient tropical residence

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Publication Details

Author list: Bukoski J.J., Chaiwiwatworakul P., Gheewala S.H.

Publisher: Springer

Publication year: 2016

Journal: Energy Efficiency (1570-646X)

Volume number: 9

Issue number: 2

Start page: 473

End page: 485

Number of pages: 13

ISSN: 1570-646X

eISSN: 1570-6478

URL: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84937109013&doi=10.1007%2fs12053-015-9374-y&partnerID=40&md5=41f3967cecfb1aef255cf2666174e7c8

Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)

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Abstract

As renewable energy sources and net-zero energy homes become increasingly pervasive within the residential building industry, further reductions in consumption patterns will occur through demand side management (DSM). DSM can include measures such as energy-efficient system design, automated control and energy management systems, or policies and monitoring systems intended to alter user behavior. For an energy-efficient modern residence designed within a tropical context, several DSM strategies are considered for reductions in operational-phase energy consumption: a lightweight, thermally high-performing building envelope, installation of light dimmers to enhance user control of lighting, and comparison of a solar hot water system versus a point-of-use electric water heater to produce hot water for bathing demands. The energy-consumption savings associated with the three DSM strategies are simulated and normalized to an energy savings per cost of implementation basis in kWh per 1000 Thai Baht (THB) for comparison. The results show that financial investments in low-energy hot water heaters (i.e., solar water heating systems) result in relatively higher energy savings per unit financial investment than the other two strategies. Conversely, the installation of a lightweight, well-insulated envelope is highly expensive relative to its associated energy savings over a 25-year time frame. The savings associated with the insulated envelope, light dimmers, and hot water production strategies are evaluated at 80, 609 and 657 kWh/1000 THB investment, respectively. ฉ 2015, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Keywords

Building envelope efficiency, Green buildings, Operational energy, Tropical residences