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Validating ‘GIS-UBEM’—A Residential Open Data-Driven Urban Building Energy Model

Author

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  • Javier García-López

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de La Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. de la Reina Mercedes, 2, 41012 Sevilla, Spain)

  • Juan José Sendra

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de La Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. de la Reina Mercedes, 2, 41012 Sevilla, Spain)

  • Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de La Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. de la Reina Mercedes, 2, 41012 Sevilla, Spain)

Abstract

The study of energy consumption in buildings, particularly residential ones, brings with it significant socio-economic and environmental implications, as it accounts for approximately 40% of CO 2 emissions, 18% in the case of residential buildings, in Europe. On a number of levels, energy consumption serves as a key parameter in urban sustainability indicators and energy plans. Access to data on energy consumption is crucial for energy planning, management, knowledge generation, and awareness. Urban Building Energy Models (UBEMs), which are emerging tools for simulating energy consumption at neighborhood scale, allow for more efficient intervention and energy rehabilitation planning. However, UBEM validation requires reliable reference data, which are often challenging to obtain at urban scale due to privacy concerns and data accessibility issues. Recent advances, such as automation and open data utilization, are proving promising in addressing these challenges. This study aims to provide a standardized UBEM validation process by presenting a case study that was carried out utilizing open data to develop bottom-up engineering models of residential energy demand at urban scale, with a resolution level of individual buildings, and a subsequent adjustment and validation using reference tools. This study confirms that the validated GIS-UBEM model heating and cooling demands and consumption fall within the confidence bands of ±15% and ±12.5%, i.e., the confidence bands required for the approval of official alternative simulation methods for energy certification. This paves the way for its application in urban-scale studies and practices with a well-established margin of confidence, covering a wide range of building typologies, construction models, and climates comparable to those considered in the validation process. The primary application of this model is to determine the starting point and subsequent evaluation of improvement scenarios at a district scale, examining issues such as massive energy rehabilitation interventions, energy planning, demand analysis, vulnerability studies, etc.

Suggested Citation

  • Javier García-López & Juan José Sendra & Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo, 2024. "Validating ‘GIS-UBEM’—A Residential Open Data-Driven Urban Building Energy Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:6:p:2599-:d:1361553
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ang, Yu Qian & Berzolla, Zachary Michael & Reinhart, Christoph F., 2020. "From concept to application: A review of use cases in urban building energy modeling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    2. Li, Wenliang & Zhou, Yuyu & Cetin, Kristen & Eom, Jiyong & Wang, Yu & Chen, Gang & Zhang, Xuesong, 2017. "Modeling urban building energy use: A review of modeling approaches and procedures," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 2445-2457.
    3. Guglielmina Mutani & Maryam Alehasin & Yasemin Usta & Francesco Fiermonte & Angelo Mariano, 2023. "Statistical Building Energy Model from Data Collection, Place-Based Assessment to Sustainable Scenarios for the City of Milan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-36, October.
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