IEA EBC annex 53: Total energy use in buildings—Analysis and evaluation methods

• DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.07.038
• Publication Date: 2017-07-18T02:17:58Z
• Authors: Hiroshi Yoshino; Tianzhen Hong; Natasa Nord
• Keywords: 690; Building & Construction; Built environment and design; Energy data definition; 0211 other engineering and technologies; 720; Real energy use; Occupant behavior; 02 engineering and technology; 7. Clean energy; Engineering; Affordable and Clean Energy; Built Environment and Design; Energy monitoring; 13. Climate action; Architecture; Behavioral and Social Science; 11. Sustainability; Performance evaluation; Building; Energy modeling

Abstract One of the most significant barriers to achieving deep building energy efficiency is a lack of knowledge about the factors determining energy use. In fact, there is often a significant discrepancy between designed and real energy use in buildings, which is poorly understood but are believed to have more to do with the role of human behavior than building design. Building energy use is mainly influenced by six factors: climate, building envelope, building services and energy systems, building operation and maintenance, occupants’ activities and behavior, and indoor environmental quality. In the past, much research focused on the first three factors. However, the next three human-related factors can have an influence as significant as the first three. Annex 53 employed an interdisciplinary approach, integrating building science, architectural engineering, computer modeling and simulation, and social and behavioral science to develop and apply methods to analyze and evaluate the real energy use in buildings considering the six influencing factors. Outcomes from Annex 53 improved understanding and strengthen knowledge regarding the robust prediction of total energy use in buildings, enabling reliable quantitative assessment of energy-savings measures, policies, and techniques.