Heating Energy Performance Gap in Vulnerable Households: Identification and Impact of Associated Variables

Sebastián Seguel-Vargas, Carlos Rubio-Bellido, Lucía Pereira-Ruchansky and Alexis Pérez-Fargallo ()
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Sebastián Seguel-Vargas: Department of Construction Sciences, Faculty of Architecture, Construction and Design, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Concepción 4081112, Chile
Carlos Rubio-Bellido: Department of Architectural Constructions II, University of Seville, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
Lucía Pereira-Ruchansky: Climate and Comfort Area, Faculty of Architecture, Design and Urbanism, University of the Republic, Montevideo 11200, Uruguay
Alexis Pérez-Fargallo: Escuela de Arquitectura, Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción 4090762, Chile

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-21

Abstract: Reducing energy consumption in the construction sector is urgently needed. In Chile, where income distribution is unequal and the cost of energy is high, energy demand is seriously affected, especially in vulnerable households. Hence, it is essential to establish public policies with more realistic energy-saving goals to address this situation. However, reliably predicting the energy performance of buildings remains a challenge. For this reason, this study aims to identify and evaluate the impact of the variables associated with energy performance in vulnerable households in Central-Southern Chile and propose values that would reduce the gap. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to achieve this, adjusting the energy performance parameters in a base model with data analyzed using local standards. In addition, field information was collected in 93 households to obtain the actual energy consumption. The main results show that the variables that most impacted performance were infiltration, COP, heating setpoints, and schedules, which generated a 60% difference between the theoretical and actual consumption.

Keywords: energy performance gap; energy poverty; occupant behavior; social housing; energy modeling of buildings; energy policy of buildings (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: 2024
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