Prediction of unregulated energy usage in office buildings

Purpose: The paper presents a technique for predicting the energy consumption of unregulated energy loads (UELs) in office buildings. It also presents an approach for determining a set of optimum values required by the technique. Design/methodology/approach: The proposed technique uses the optimum power drawn and optimum usage period in three modes of device operation, for the prediction. The usage modes are active mode, idle (low active) mode and off mode. The optimum powers and usage times are inserted into a linear mathematical equation to predict the energy consumption. Regarding the approach for determining the optimum values, the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) is applied to a range of values obtained from field measurements. The proposed prediction method and approach for determining optimum values were tested using data of energy consumption of UELs in a case study facility. Findings: Test results show that the method for predicting the energy consumption of UELs in offices is highly accurate and suitable for adoption by energy modelers, building designers and building regulatory agencies. The approach for determining the optimum values is also effective and can aid the establishment of workable benchmark values. Originality/value: A new and simple model has been developed for the prediction of unregulated energy. A method for determining a set of optimum values of power and usage periods required by the model has also been developed. Furthermore, optimum values have been suggested that can be fine-tuned for use as benchmark values. The proposed approaches are the first of their kind.