Impacts of lighting and plug load variations on residential building energy consumption targeting zero energy building goals

Abstract

Mitigating building energy use and carbon emissions in the buildings sector is a globally recognized goal. This is being pursued through the adoption of zero-energy building (ZEB) targets, with formal government regulations and policies actively embraced in domestic marketplaces. However, building assessment methods used for the ZEB certification system in South Korea have garnered substantial critique from building energy engineers and practitioners for their practical applicability. This study investigated energy consumption patterns of single-family residential buildings, focusing on two major energy end-use categories: lighting- and plug-loads. Empirical analyses and field measurement data were used to construct representative profiles of lighting and plug loads, as well as power density values, based on data from existing residential buildings. These distinct profiles of lighting and plug loads were used as input data for a residential ZEB evaluation. The measurement data from 60 detached houses in South Korea was utilized to derive four representative profiles for the category's loads. These profiles were subsequently employed for simulation-based analyses to assess load diversity. A whole-building energy simulation model was developed to conduct annual building energy analyses and assess ZEB certification based on the set and applied load profiles. Results showed that building energy consumption could vary by up to 23% based on different lighting load patterns and by as much as 58% for differing plug load patterns. These findings underline the importance of refining the current domestic ZEB certification process by considering the influence of diverse domestic load profiles on energy consumption and building certification grades.

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