Evaluating Building Energy Code Compliance and Savings Potential through Large-Scale Simulation with Models Inferred by Field Data

Yulong Xie, Mark Halverson, Rosemarie Bartlett, Yan Chen, Michael Rosenberg, Todd Taylor, Jeremiah Williams and Michael Reiner
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Yulong Xie: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
Mark Halverson: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
Rosemarie Bartlett: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
Yan Chen: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
Michael Rosenberg: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
Todd Taylor: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
Jeremiah Williams: U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20024, USA
Michael Reiner: U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20024, USA

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-19

Abstract: Building energy code compliance is the crucial link between the actual energy savings and the efficiency prescribed in energy codes. A research project aiming to identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption in new single-family residential construction by increasing compliance with the building energy code was conducted in several states of the United States. The study was comprised of three phases: (1) a baseline study to document typical practice and identify opportunities for improvement based on empirical data gathered from the field; (2) an education and training phase targeting the opportunities identified; and (3) a post-study to assess whether a reduction in average state-wide energy use could be achieved following the education and training phase. We proposed a novel methodology based on large-scale building energy simulation inferred by limited field data to assess the performance of a large population of homes. This paper presents the methodology, findings, and results of this study. The state-wide average energy consumption decreased at Phase III from Phase I for five of the seven states involved in the analysis. The measure-level savings potential analysis shows an overall reduction. Overall, the training and education phase plays a recognizable role in improving compliance with building energy codes.

Keywords: building energy simulation; building energy code compliance; energy savings potential; Monte Carlo; bootstrap sampling (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: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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