Climate impact on electrical energy consumption in residential building in different building climate zones of China

Residential building energy consumption is vulnerable to climate condition due to the cooling and heating energy demand and heat transfer between building wall and external environment. This study describes the research conducted in order to identify the climatic impact factors of residential building energy consumption, and to quantify how the relationship between them varies across the climate zones. Historical data of 405 residential buildings in three main climate zones in China are collected and 15 scenarios for simulation by EnergyPlus are created. The study finds that air temperature is the main influencing factor. The relationship between air temperature and Electricity Use Intensity (EUIE) is not linear. Climate change shows little impact in Severe Cold Zone, but obvious influence in Cold Zone and Hot Summer and Cold Winter Zone. There exists large difference of the climate impact among climate zones but similar changing trend between sub climate zones in the same main climate zone. The effect changes from inhibition to promotion when the air temperature rises to 20℃ in Cold Zone and 15℃ in Hot Summer and Cold Winter Zone. The variation of impact also depends on building type. Multistory residential building (less than 7 storey) is the most sensitive type to climate change. The finding of variation represents a better understanding of climate impact on residential building energy performance and highlights the importance that energy policies to cope with climate change should be adapted to local conditions.

Volume Editors

ISBN
978-1-944214-31-9