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Ponderosa Commons energy conservation studies Arunan, Anushiya; Jefferies, Amy; Li, Marie; Ratcliffe, Christine
Abstract
This report provides an analysis and evaluation of possible demand side management strategies for reducing energy demand in residences in the University of British Columbia with the design of the as- yet un-built Ponderosa Phase 1, 2 and 3 student residences used as a case study. Four options had been initially proposed, analyzed and ranked through the means of a sustainability criteria matrix that had been developed for the purpose of this project. The four proposed options are the use of fabric curtains (as opposed to venetian blinds), ‘Nest’ Programmable Thermostats, High-resolution Real time Feedback Systems and Power Strips with attached ‘Universal Plugs’. While the first three options reduce heating loads in residential buildings, the fourth option of the use of Power Strips with attached ‘Universal Plugs’ aims to reduce plug loads. The options, fabric curtains, ‘Nest’ Programmable Thermostats and High-resolution Real time Feedback Systems performed the best on the whole when assessed using the sustainability criteria matrix that had been generated based on the three defining pillars of sustainability: Environmental, Social and Economic. Consequently, the option of Power Strips with attached ‘Universal Plugs’ has been excluded from the recommendations as it proved to be economically unfeasible at the moment. The sustainability criteria matrix consisted of indicators to measure energy usage reductions, occupant engagement, technical and economic feasibility and academic research potential among other things. Points had been assigned to each of the options depending on how well they fared against the indicators, with highest number of points given to the best performing option and so on. Certain indicators such as reduction in energy consumption were more quantifiable than others like those measuring occupant engagement. As such, a survey was carried out among students to gauge the less quantifiable indicators in a reliable manner. Subsequently, the total number of points was added to rank the options. This conclusions and recommendations proposed in this report have been made after considerable thought and analysis of the information that had been available at the time of writing. While the authors of this report stand by the conclusions and recommendations made in this report, certain limitations of the proposed options have to be also acknowledged. Certain foreseeable challenges in relation to the proposed options are also discussed in this report. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”
Item Metadata
Title |
Ponderosa Commons energy conservation studies
|
Creator | |
Contributor | |
Date Issued |
2012-05-04
|
Description |
This
report
provides
an
analysis
and
evaluation
of
possible
demand
side
management
strategies
for
reducing
energy
demand
in
residences
in
the
University
of
British
Columbia
with
the
design
of
the
as-
yet
un-built
Ponderosa
Phase
1,
2
and
3
student
residences
used
as
a
case
study.
Four
options
had
been
initially
proposed,
analyzed
and
ranked
through
the
means
of
a
sustainability
criteria
matrix
that
had
been
developed
for
the
purpose
of
this
project.
The
four
proposed
options
are
the
use
of
fabric
curtains
(as
opposed
to
venetian
blinds),
‘Nest’
Programmable
Thermostats,
High-resolution
Real
time
Feedback
Systems
and
Power
Strips
with
attached
‘Universal
Plugs’.
While
the
first
three
options
reduce
heating
loads
in
residential
buildings,
the
fourth
option
of
the
use
of
Power
Strips
with
attached
‘Universal
Plugs’
aims
to
reduce
plug
loads.
The
options,
fabric
curtains,
‘Nest’
Programmable
Thermostats
and
High-resolution
Real
time
Feedback
Systems
performed
the
best
on
the
whole
when
assessed
using
the
sustainability
criteria
matrix
that
had
been
generated
based
on
the
three
defining
pillars
of
sustainability:
Environmental,
Social
and
Economic.
Consequently,
the
option
of
Power
Strips
with
attached
‘Universal
Plugs’
has
been
excluded
from
the
recommendations
as
it
proved
to
be
economically
unfeasible
at
the
moment.
The
sustainability
criteria
matrix
consisted
of
indicators
to
measure
energy
usage
reductions,
occupant
engagement,
technical
and
economic
feasibility
and
academic
research
potential
among
other
things.
Points
had
been
assigned
to
each
of
the
options
depending
on
how
well
they
fared
against
the
indicators,
with
highest
number
of
points
given
to
the
best
performing
option
and
so
on.
Certain
indicators
such
as
reduction
in
energy
consumption
were
more
quantifiable
than
others
like
those
measuring
occupant
engagement.
As
such,
a
survey
was
carried
out
among
students
to
gauge
the
less
quantifiable
indicators
in
a
reliable
manner.
Subsequently,
the
total
number
of
points
was
added
to
rank
the
options.
This
conclusions
and
recommendations
proposed
in
this
report
have
been
made
after
considerable
thought
and
analysis
of
the
information
that
had
been
available
at
the
time
of
writing.
While
the
authors
of
this
report
stand
by
the
conclusions
and
recommendations
made
in
this
report,
certain
limitations
of
the
proposed
options
have
to
be
also
acknowledged.
Certain
foreseeable
challenges
in
relation
to
the
proposed
options
are
also
discussed
in
this
report. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”
|
Genre | |
Type | |
Language |
eng
|
Series | |
Date Available |
2014-07-21
|
Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
|
Rights |
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada
|
DOI |
10.14288/1.0108552
|
URI | |
Affiliation | |
Campus | |
Peer Review Status |
Unreviewed
|
Scholarly Level |
Undergraduate
|
Rights URI | |
Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
|
Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada