Linear regression analysis is one the most common methods for weather-normalizing energy data,where energy versus degree-days is plotted,quantifying the impacts of outside temperature on buildings’energy use.However,...Linear regression analysis is one the most common methods for weather-normalizing energy data,where energy versus degree-days is plotted,quantifying the impacts of outside temperature on buildings’energy use.However,this approach solely con-siders dry-bulb temperature,while other climate variables are ignored.In addition,depending on buildings’internal loads,weather impact can be less influential,making the linear regression method not applicable for energy data normalization in inter-nally driven buildings(such as research laboratory buildings,healthcare facilities,etc.).In this study,several existing buildings from different categories,all located on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus and exposed to the same weather conditions in a heating-dominated climate,were analyzed.For all cases,regression of monthly steam use on heating degree-days and floor-area normalized steam data were used,investigating applicability of the former when the latter changes.It was found that internal loads can skew steam consumption,depending on the build-ing functionality,making the effect of degree-days negligible.For laboratory-type buildings,besides heating and domestic hot water production,steam is also used for scientific experiments.Here,daily occupancy percentage,even during weekends and holidays,was higher than that of other buildings,indicating the intensity of scientific experiments performed.This significantly impacted steam consumption,resulting in higher floor-area-normalized steam usage.In these cases,steam use did not provide an outstanding correlation to heating degree-days.Whereas,for cases with other func-tionality-types and lower floor-area normalized steam,coefficients of determination in regressions were high.This study concludes that even for buildings located in the same climate,depending on how building functionality and occupancy schedule influ-ence floor-area normalized steam use,multivariate linear regression can provide more accurate analysis,rather than simple linear regression of steam on heating degree-days.展开更多
文摘Linear regression analysis is one the most common methods for weather-normalizing energy data,where energy versus degree-days is plotted,quantifying the impacts of outside temperature on buildings’energy use.However,this approach solely con-siders dry-bulb temperature,while other climate variables are ignored.In addition,depending on buildings’internal loads,weather impact can be less influential,making the linear regression method not applicable for energy data normalization in inter-nally driven buildings(such as research laboratory buildings,healthcare facilities,etc.).In this study,several existing buildings from different categories,all located on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus and exposed to the same weather conditions in a heating-dominated climate,were analyzed.For all cases,regression of monthly steam use on heating degree-days and floor-area normalized steam data were used,investigating applicability of the former when the latter changes.It was found that internal loads can skew steam consumption,depending on the build-ing functionality,making the effect of degree-days negligible.For laboratory-type buildings,besides heating and domestic hot water production,steam is also used for scientific experiments.Here,daily occupancy percentage,even during weekends and holidays,was higher than that of other buildings,indicating the intensity of scientific experiments performed.This significantly impacted steam consumption,resulting in higher floor-area-normalized steam usage.In these cases,steam use did not provide an outstanding correlation to heating degree-days.Whereas,for cases with other func-tionality-types and lower floor-area normalized steam,coefficients of determination in regressions were high.This study concludes that even for buildings located in the same climate,depending on how building functionality and occupancy schedule influ-ence floor-area normalized steam use,multivariate linear regression can provide more accurate analysis,rather than simple linear regression of steam on heating degree-days.
