Comparison of building energy use data between the United States and China

Abstract

Buildings in the United States and China consumed 41% and 28% of the total primary energy in 2011, respectively. Good energy data are the cornerstone to understanding building energy performance and supporting research, design, operation, and policy making for low energy buildings. This paper presents initial outcomes from a joint research project under the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center for Building Energy Efficiency. The goal is to decode the driving forces behind the discrepancy of building energy use between the two countries; identify gaps and deficiencies of current building energy monitoring, data collection, and analysis; and create knowledge and tools to collect and analyze good building energy data to provide valuable and actionable information for key stakeholders. This paper first reviews and compares several popular existing building energy monitoring systems in both countries. Next a standard energy data model is presented. A detailed, measured building energy data comparison was conducted for a few office buildings in both countries. Finally issues of data collection, quality, sharing, and analysis methods are discussed. It was found that buildings in both countries performed very differently, had potential for deep energy retrofit, but that different efficiency measures should apply.

A thorough assessment of China’s standard for energy consumption of buildings

“…There are significant differences in occupant behavior in buildings between China and the U.S. The predominant Chinese life style and behavior involves part-time, part-space use and the application of natural resources first (e.g., natural ventilation, daylighting), while in the U.S., the typical behavior involves full-time, full-space use and the application of mechanical cooling and heating first (Xia et al,, 2014). This leads to different technical optimization solutions for building and system designs.…”

Real-Time Building Energy and Comfort Parameter Data Collection Using Mobile Indoor Robots

“…Thus, optimizing and improving the energy performance of buildings and at the same time maintaining the occupants' comfort are some of the major areas of concern for building managers and stakeholders. In order to properly analyze the building's energy performance and make informed retrofit and/or maintenance and operations decisions, decision makers need access to credible data illustrating how the building systems (i.e., lighting and HVAC: Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning) are being used by its occupants [3]. There is thus a tangible need to collect room and floor level data from buildings.…”

Thermal characteristics of non-edible oils as phase change materials candidate to application of air conditioning chilled water system

“…Since these biodiesels are also utilized as edible oils, their functions as PCM should be reconsidered for further development. 1 To whom any correspondence should be addressed. [9] 4680 [10] 896 [10] 71.98 [11] Jatropha curcas [11] 0.1 -15 37 -45 [10] 1900 -2500 [12] 920 [10] 18.2 [11] [ 11] 0.15 Hevea braziliensis 40 -50 [13] 40 -50 [11] 910 [11] 66.2 [11] Vegetable oil is composed of diverse fatty acids, both saturated and unsaturated fats.…”

“…It is stated that the largest percentage spent for electric consumption on commercial blocks is in their air conditioning systems as demonstrated in United States and China which spend 38 percent [1], Malaysia 57 percent [2], and Indonesia spends more than 65 percent [3]. Methods are being developed to reduce electrical energy consumption in the air conditioning system and one of them is the use of phase change materials (PCM) as thermal energy storage (TES) [4].…”