Remote energy auditing: Energy efficiency through smart thermostat data and control

Panel: 5. Buildings and construction technologies and systems

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Guy Newsham, National Research Council Canada, Canada
Ajit Pardasani, National Research Council Canada, Canada
Yuri Grinberg, National Research Council Canada, Canada
Koby Bar, Energy Management Advisor, Israel

Abstract

We describe the development of “remote energy audit” techniques using data from a pilot study in 500 dwellings in Ontario, Canada. This pilot study provided a unique combination of data sets: smart thermostat, occupancy events, and smart meter data, combined with basic information on household characteristics and weather data. With knowledge of building physics and occupant energy use behaviours, we deployed a variety of data analytic techniques to derive insights into household energy use characteristics. These included partial end-use disaggregation of electricity, opportunities for energy savings via dynamic thermostat setback, and an estimate of the relative thermal efficiency of the house structure. The results on these metrics emphasize the heterogeneous nature of energy performance even across households in the same region. Such individualized remote audit information may be a relatively inexpensive way for utilities to target energy efficiency programs and messaging towards households more likely to yield benefits.