An agile heating and cooling energy demand model for residential buildings. Case study in a mediterranean city residential sector. (April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Prades-Gil, C.; Viana-Fons, J.D.; Masip, X.; Cazorla-Marín, A.; Gómez-Navarro, T.
• Is Part Of: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews. Volume 175(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-04
• Subjects: 3D GIS -- Urban energy planning -- Heating demand -- Cooling demand -- Retrofitting -- Climate change; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2023.113166
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-0321

Abstract

Abstract: Climate change will affect people's health, especially in cities. Hence, energy planning will play a key role in the development of sustainable and resilient cities. Urban building energy models facilitate energy planning as heating and cooling demand becomes known, and the consequences of different planning actions can be modelled. This research presents an agile heating and cooling demand model. It combines a European standard's methodology, geometric information of buildings collected from cadastral and altimetric datasets using GIS-based technologies, solar irradiation analysis and the degree-days method. The model is validated with various case studies and then applied to several buildings in different environments. The model shows the strong influence of the building's age (design and materials), the building surface-to-volume ratio on the energy demand and the importance of the solar irradiation analysis. Furthermore, the model can predict the effects of the temperature rise on energy demand and prioritise the buildings to be retrofitted. Indeed, one of the conclusions obtained from the model is that advanced retrofitting of 17% of the most energy demanding buildings would obtain a 50% decrease in thermal demand; if the percentage was 50%, an 85% reduction could be reached. In conclusion, the energy planning tool hereby presented is a useful tool to viably foresee the energy demand of residential buildings and districts and the effects of climate change on their energy demand, as well as the consequences of countermeasures like retrofitting. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A new methodology for an urban building energy model based on European standards. 3D models from cadastral and altimetric datasets using GIS-based technologies. Inclusion of solar irradiation analysis and degree-days method in the model. Results show the importance of the building's age and external surface/volume ratio. Climate change effects on the future energy demand of buildings are calculated.