Researchers at Aarhus University have found how consumers can save money for heating using about 10 percent more energy for heating. Its an idea electric utilities are sure to work on. On the other hand the new study shows that it is possible to save money and reduce carbon dioxide emission by using more energy. Its an idea sure to deserve a look.

The Aarhus researchers used extensive theoretical mappings developed for the way private consumers can save money for heating in a modern supply system based on electricity. Surprisingly enough, the mapping shows that by using approximately 10 percent more energy for heating, it is possible to save about 10 percent on the heating bill, at the same time as protecting the environment with lower carbon dioxide emission.

Many people now and soon lots more will be wondering what is the most optimal energy use behavior in everyday life with variable electricity prices.

By means of building simulations and advanced calculation models, the researchers came to the conclusion that using plenty of energy is both an economic and an environmental advantage, while it is also inexpensive and green.

It seems completely counter intuitive. But, their methods for this purpose included specially developed prognosis systems to predict both energy prices and the energy’s carbon dioxide intensity.  The team’s study paper is available now in the journal Energy and Buildings.

Associate Professor Steffen Petersen explains, “We experimented with intelligent management of energy consumption with the aim of minimizing the cost of space heating without compromising user comfort. The result is that you can use large amounts of energy at night to heat up the thermal mass of the building, after which you can turn off the heating altogether in the morning peak and during the daytime, when the total power consumption and energy price are at their highest. You thus use more energy than you would without intelligent management, but you actually save money and take the pressure of the energy supply at the same time.”

On the basis of their study, the researchers can also conclude that there are major ‘green’ profits to be made with intelligent management of the energy consumption of buildings.

“If you choose to focus in the management plan on reducing carbon dioxide emission slightly, you’ll achieve a significant environmental gain for a very small price,” said Professor Petersen.

He emphasized that the precise economic and environmental advantage for an individual household depends on the building’s specific thermal conditions, but that the result of the study will under all circumstances have an impact on the construction industry.

“We made a theoretical study of how buildings can and should act in a future with fluctuating energy production. Our current savings logic falls short in this regard, so we have to start working in a completely new way on energy efficiency in buildings,” he said.

One example today is that heating systems are often turned down at night to save energy and money when a building is not in use. In the energy system of the future, this would certainly save energy, but not necessarily money and carbon dioxide emission.

Instead of turning down the heating at night, the building’s intelligent systems will actually increase the temperature because there are copious amounts of cheap power from sustainable energy sources.

In connection with mapping consumer habits, the researchers developed a system for the intelligent management of building operations, where it is possible to optimize a building’s energy consumption regarding both price and environment.

During the course of 2016, they will try out the system in buildings in Aarhus, and subsequently ascertain the results of the theoretical mapping.

Petersen offered, “We’ll further develop the intelligent management so that a building automatically adjusts to consumer behavior and comfort requirements in an energy-efficient way. I believe that in a few years it will be taken for granted that the building itself works out the heating requirement for the following day and when it is best and cheapest from an environmental point of view to use energy.”

This subject hasn’t received the attention is needs. Many Americans have already learned that air conditioning driven overnight chilling a space is cheaper than trying to cool it while the sunlight and the ambient outside air is gaining heat. A heat pump moving the interior heat to a cooler outside night time air dump is far less expensive. One only needs good insulation and solar protected windows.

Its good to see the research looking at heating. It might surprise folks when they find out sleeping and waking up in the cold is counter productive.


Comments

8 Comments so far

  1. June on August 15, 2017 9:26 PM

    Good! We should try to protect the environment and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. And we should love our mother Earth.

  2. Diesel concrete mixer on August 21, 2017 1:16 AM

    We can’t lower energy consumption by our human labor, but we can use energy-saving machine, which will make great contributions to sustainable development, isn’t it?

  3. Cement silo on August 24, 2017 7:33 AM

    Just do it! Environmental protection is juat like the water in our body. We must cherish!

  4. small concrete pump on August 25, 2017 1:43 AM

    We can look for new energy or use technology to save energy consumption.

  5. electric concrete pump on August 25, 2017 2:13 AM

    All of us should be responsible for environmental protection.

  6. concrete plant on August 25, 2017 2:45 AM

    The intelligent management of building operations is possible to optimize a building’s energy consumption regarding both price and environment.

  7. concrete batch plant on August 25, 2017 3:04 AM

    Get it: using approximately 10 percent more energy for heating, it is possible to save about 10 percent on the heating bill, at the same time as protecting the environment with lower carbon dioxide emission.

  8. Diesel concrete mixer on August 27, 2017 8:46 PM

    “If you choose to focus in the management plan on reducing carbon dioxide emission slightly, you’ll achieve a significant environmental gain for a very small price,” said Professor Petersen. So, if you take intelligent management into serious consideration, you are prone to gain tremendous benefit for a very very very small price!

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