Cost Evaluation of Building Space Heating; District Heating and Heat Pumps

Abstract: Climate change and energy efficiency has become a matter of concern in recent times; therefore, energy efficiency of buildings has drawn major attention. According to the European Commission, EU countries must improve energy efficiency of existing buildings by retrofitting and renovating the buildings. A case study of a renovated commercial building is considered in this degree project. A model of the building is developed in the IDA Indoor Climate and Energy (IDA ICE) software. The model is then augmented to include renovations in the building. Further, the model is simulated in IDA ICE before and after renovations to investigate the impact of renovations on energy consumption of the building for one year. The simulation results indicate peak demands of district heating that occur in the coldest days of the year. The peak demands of energy are expected to increase the district heating cost because they serve as a basis for new pricing model introduced by the energy providers. Hence, it is important from the customer point of view to reduce the peak loads for cost shavings. The project work also provides an insight into the alternative source of energy such as heat pumps to reduce the peak load demands of district heating.