Developing a multi-level energy benchmarking and certification system for office buildings in a cold climate region. (15th April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vaisi, Salah; Varmazyari, Pouya; Esfandiari, Masoud; Sharbaf, Sara A.
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 336(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-04-15
• Subjects: Energy benchmarking system -- Energy performance certificate -- Energy labeling -- Energy efficiency -- Office buildings -- Iran -- Cold climate; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.120824
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlights: Developing novel multi-level benchmarks. Identifying benchmarks for electricity and thermal energy for office buildings. Presentation a base for short/long-term energy efficiency plans. Analyzing energy efficiency and consumption in details. Creating a dataset, including building and energy information. Abstract: Energy benchmarking is an accurate tool to measure, monitor, and reduce end-use energy consumption in the building sector using comparison scenarios. Various studies have applied Bottom-Up energy consumption assessment to compare the energy performance of a group of buildings with a benchmark. The Bottom-Up method mostly relies on simulating an ideal building to develop a benchmark. However, this study has developed a Top-Down energy benchmarking methodology based on the actual energy consumption within a cluster of governmental office buildings. The method presents multi-level benchmarks to provide a detailed policy for improving the energy efficiency of buildings in the short or long-term. In an exploratory study, 26 office buildings in a cold climate region were investigated to identify the multi-level benchmarks. Four general benchmark levels were developed, including the 'Best Practice, 'Good Practice', 'Benchmark', and 'Poor Practice'. In addition, 15 energy efficiency classes were also introduced and applied as a base for developing the 'Energy Performance Certificate' method. The results indicate that the benchmark values for electricity and natural gas are 40 and 252 kWh/m 2 /yr, respectively, while the total energy benchmark is 292 kWh/m 2 /yr. According to the benchmarking results, 69% of the case studies were inefficient, 23% were labeled 'C', and no cases were labeled 'A' or 'B'. The multi-level benchmarking system can provide quick and clear guidance for building designers, operators, and government regulation/enforcement agencies; thus, it can apply at local, regional, and international levels. These benchmark levels establish reference points for measuring and rewarding good performance, on the other hand, it recognizes poor-performance buildings and prioritizes them for energy efficiency improvement. The method can be replicated in various climates and urban scales.