Case study of data-oriented approach for building energy performance investigation

Abstract

The key parameters that may influence building energy performance is studied by comparing the building energy data of college buildings in two different regions (the USA and China). By introducing data-orientated approach, a study of a set of on-campus building energy demand and consumption is conducted for cooling, heating and electricity. In addition, the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and lighting systems are studied in great detail. The breakdown analyses of the current energy consumption data are used to focus the investigation on critical issues. The analysis shows that the energy consumption of college buildings in the USA can be 3–5 times more than that of college buildings in China. The over-high energy consumption in campus buildings in the USA is mainly caused by operation schedule, system style, cooling and heating counteraction and sensor/actuator faults in the control systems, which also leads to the discussion of energy difference on the concept of “full control” or “local improvement” in building environment control. The study also indicates that the building energy efficiency can only be achieved by adjusting the demand according to natural conditions, encouraging green life behaviors, and developing relative technical solutions coordinated with the thrift culture and human behavior.