Simulating energy use and energy pricing in buildings: The case of electricity

The paper presents a methodology that has been developed and implemented for the simulation of electricity use (kWh) as well as electricity pricing (c€/kWh) in buildings. In the simulation, electricity pricing has been treated as dependent on electricity use as energy pricing tariffs usually discriminate between specific electricity consumption zones, time periods, etc. Pricing and electricity use, together, may then provide an estimation of the building electric energy cost (€). The simulation runs on an hourly resolution allowing to highlight some potential wasteful and costly practices in energy use and management and providing insight to user behavior, which has been a key driver for its development. The key aspects of the simulation approach are presented and its use is demonstrated in two different buildings in Greece and Italy. The methodology is now adapted to allow for neural network based, real time training, which will also be briefly introduced.

► An energy use model has been developed using device auditing and use profiling.
► The hourly resolution of the model can provide insight to building user behavior.
► The key aspects of the simulation approach are demonstrated in two buildings.
► The methodology is suitable also for urban contexts and other utilities (e.g. water).
► A dynamic version of the model trained from real time data is introduced.