A simulation appraisal of a switch of district to electric heating due to increased heat efficiency in an office building

This research addresses the existing phenomenon in Eastern Europe related to office buildings heated by district heating. For enhanced heating efficiency, an office building is thermally insulated and/or run at a decreased space temperature. After that, in an office inside the building, the tenants may switch from district to less costly electricity heating due to the customary tariffs for district and electrical heating. The effects of this switch are analyzed by using software EnergyPlus. For the investigated office, it is found that a characteristic value of its heat consumption exists below which the heating switch decreases heating costs. In addition, the value of the heat consumption is recognized below which the heating switch also yields the decreased fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emission. For all cases, the consumed heat consumption, the consumed fossil energy, CO2 emission, and economic effects are recorded for heating devices in the excluded office. Furthermore, it is analyzed how these variables are influenced by heat transfer between the investigated office, and the adjacent offices.

► Higher energy efficiency may switch district to electricity heating.
► This may increase fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
► Two critical heat values exist one for equal costs and one for equal CO2 emissions.
► During the sub-heating, the office is additionally heated by the neighbor offices.
► During the over-heating, the office also heats the neighbor offices.