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Effects of building size growth on residential energy efficiency and conservation in California

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  • Fournier, Eric D.
  • Federico, Felicia
  • Porse, Erik
  • Pincetl, Stephanie

Abstract

Many utility and government programs exist to promote energy efficiency (EE) in residential buildings. While programs have succeeded in reducing per square foot energy usage intensity (EUI), they do not necessarily promote conservation, in terms of reduced total energy consumption. Using statistical analysis and data mining techniques, we examined relationships between home size, electricity and natural gas EUIs, and neighborhood level socio-economic attributes among ∼1.3 million single-family homes in Los Angeles County (LAC). We observed that among homes constructed between 1900 and 2010, the growth in median home size by construction vintage year has outpaced combined EUI reductions by 60%. Results of a Monte-Carlo sampling procedure derived from these observed trends indicate that past historical energy savings within LAC, attributable to state mandated EE policies, could have been equivalently achieved by constraining growth in the size of newly constructed homes. These findings have significant implications for the design of future energy conservation policies within growing urban areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Fournier, Eric D. & Federico, Felicia & Porse, Erik & Pincetl, Stephanie, 2019. "Effects of building size growth on residential energy efficiency and conservation in California," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 446-452.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:240:y:2019:i:c:p:446-452
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.02.072
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    3. Langevin, J. & Reyna, J.L. & Ebrahimigharehbaghi, S. & Sandberg, N. & Fennell, P. & Nägeli, C. & Laverge, J. & Delghust, M. & Mata, É. & Van Hove, M. & Webster, J. & Federico, F. & Jakob, M. & Camaras, 2020. "Developing a common approach for classifying building stock energy models," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    4. Ma, Minda & Ma, Xin & Cai, Wei & Cai, Weiguang, 2020. "Low carbon roadmap of residential building sector in China: Historical mitigation and prospective peak," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    5. Yu, Dejian & He, Xiaorong, 2020. "A bibliometric study for DEA applied to energy efficiency: Trends and future challenges," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    6. Porse, Erik & Fournier, Eric & Cheng, Dan & Hirashiki, Claire & Gustafson, Hannah & Federico, Felicia & Pincetl, Stephanie, 2020. "Net solar generation potential from urban rooftops in Los Angeles," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).

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