Impact of energy conservation measures in residential buildings in very remote communities in Australia

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of various energy conservation measures (ECMs) on total annual electricity consumption on a single level, two-bedroom residential building in an arid climate and in a very remote area of Australia. Base case scenario of annual energy consumption profiles of the building and its existing systems were modelled and simulated using DesignBuilder software, and the results were validated by on-site measured electricity data. Two categories of ECMs (major intervention and minor intervention) were investigated and analysed. The findings show that the total annual energy consumption of the case study building can be reduced by up to 44% (2 kWh/m²·yr) when compared against the base model and measured data if selected ECMs are implemented. Significant savings from implementing selected ECMs can help alleviate the cost-of-living pressure and stress currently experienced by many households on low incomes especially for residents of very remote communities in Australia.

KEYWORDS:

• Energy conservation measures
• thermal comfort
• building energy simulations
• very remote communities
• electricity consumption
• energy conservation
• arid climates

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [S.U.], upon reasonable request.