Energy Use in Residential Buildings: Impact of Building Automation Control Systems on Energy Performance and Flexibility

Francesco Mancini, Gianluigi Lo Basso and Livio de Santoli
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Francesco Mancini: Department of Planning, Design and Technology of Architecture, Sapienza University of Rome, 00197 Rome, Italy
Gianluigi Lo Basso: Department of Astronautics, Electrical Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy
Livio de Santoli: Department of Astronautics, Electrical Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 15, 1-21

Abstract: This work shows the results of a research activity aimed at characterizing the energy habits of Italian residential users. In detail, by the energy simulation of a buildings sample, the opportunity to implement a demand/response program (DR) has been investigated. Italian residential utilities are poorly electrified and flexible loads are low. The presence of an automation system is an essential requirement for participating in a DR program and, in addition, it can allow important reductions in energy consumption. In this work the characteristics of three control systems have been defined, based on the services incidence on energy consumptions along with a sensitivity analysis on some energy drivers. Using the procedure established by the European Standard EN 15232, the achievable energy and economic savings have been evaluated. Finally, a financial analysis of the investments has been carried out, considering also the incentives provided by the Italian regulations. The payback time is generally not very long: depending on the control system features it varies from 7 to 10 years; moreover, the automation system installation within dwellings is a relatively simple activity, which is characterized by a limited execution times and by an initial expenditure ranging in 1000 € to 4000 €, related to the three sample systems.

Keywords: residential users; demand response; building automation control; energy efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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