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Using Real Building Energy Use Data to Explain the Energy Performance Gap of Energy-Efficient Residential Buildings: A Case Study from the Hot Summer and Cold Winter Zone in China

Author

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  • Xia Wang

    (School of Public Finance and Taxation, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Jiachen Yuan

    (School of Public Finance and Taxation, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Kairui You

    (Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Xianrui Ma

    (College of Economics and Management, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

  • Zhaoji Li

    (School of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

Abstract

The International Energy Agency (IEA) emphasizes that using real building energy use data (RBEUD) to reflect the actual condition of buildings and inform policy-making is the most effective way to reduce buildings’ carbon emissions. However, based on IEA’s evaluation, regional and national building stock data are limited and lacking. Especially for China, the lack of RBEUD in buildings has limited our ability to address the energy performance gap (EPG). In this research, EPG refers to the difference between regulated energy consumption by design standards and actual energy usage. EPG makes it difficult to develop buildings that are energy-efficient. Therefore, this study aims to gather and analyze RBEUD in order to understand the role of occupants’ behavior in explaining the EPG of energy-efficient residential buildings in China. The results suggest that the actual consumption of residential buildings is less than 1/5–1/3 of the theoretical limits. The heat pump and air conditioner’s actual schedules and setpoint settings are the significant drivers that explain the EPG. In addition, the presentation of a database of 1128 households provides actual usage behavior parameters for policy-makers to improve the accuracy of building energy forecasting models.

Suggested Citation

  • Xia Wang & Jiachen Yuan & Kairui You & Xianrui Ma & Zhaoji Li, 2023. "Using Real Building Energy Use Data to Explain the Energy Performance Gap of Energy-Efficient Residential Buildings: A Case Study from the Hot Summer and Cold Winter Zone in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-22, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:2:p:1575-:d:1035015
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Xiang Liu & Wanjiang Wang & Zixuan Wang & Junkang Song & Ke Li, 2023. "Simulation Study on Outdoor Wind Environment of Residential Complexes in Hot-Summer and Cold-Winter Climate Zones Based on Entropy-Based TOPSIS Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-28, August.

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