Editorial

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8 pages, 238 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Energy Use Research in the Social Sciences–Introduction to a Research Topic

by Imre Kovách and Boldizsár Gergely Megyesi

Energies 2023, 16(8), 3402; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16083402 - 12 Apr 2023

Viewed by 930

Abstract

In our paper we analyse the scientific perception of energy use in the social sciences [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors Influencing Households’ Energy Consumption)

Research

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10 pages, 1308 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gradient Boosting Approach to Predict Energy-Saving Awareness of Households in Kitakyushu

by Nitin Kumar Singh, Takuya Fukushima and Masaaki Nagahara

Energies 2023, 16(16), 5998; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16165998 - 16 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1315

Abstract

This paper aims to develop a machine-learning model based on a gradient-boosting algorithm to predict the energy-saving awareness of households using a questionnaire survey and 11-month energy data collected from more than 200 smart houses in Kitakyushu, Japan. We utilize the LightGBM (light [...] Read more.

This paper aims to develop a machine-learning model based on a gradient-boosting algorithm to predict the energy-saving awareness of households using a questionnaire survey and 11-month energy data collected from more than 200 smart houses in Kitakyushu, Japan. We utilize the LightGBM (light gradient boosting machine) classifier to perform feature selection for the prediction. By using this approach, we demonstrate that the key features are the standard deviations of electricity purchased between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and electricity consumed between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Next, by using k-means clustering we split the households based on the obtained features into three groups. Finally, by using statistical hypothesis testing, we prove that these three groups have statistically distinct levels of energy-saving awareness. This model enables us to detect eco-friendly households from their energy data, which may support energy policymaking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors Influencing Households’ Energy Consumption)

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21 pages, 626 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Consumption Forecasting for the Digital-Twin Model of the Building

by Joanna Henzel, Łukasz Wróbel, Marcin Fice and Marek Sikora

Energies 2022, 15(12), 4318; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15124318 - 13 Jun 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2653

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to propose a new approach to forecast the energy consumption for the next day using the unique data obtained from a digital twin model of a building. In the research, we tested which of the chosen forecasting [...] Read more.

The aim of the paper is to propose a new approach to forecast the energy consumption for the next day using the unique data obtained from a digital twin model of a building. In the research, we tested which of the chosen forecasting methods and which set of input data gave the best results. We tested naive methods, linear regression, LSTM and the Prophet method. We found that the Prophet model using information about the total energy consumption and real data about the energy consumption of the top 10 energy-consuming devices gave the best forecast of energy consumption for the following day. In this paper, we also presented a methodology of using decision trees and a unique set of conditional attributes to understand the errors made by the forecast model. This methodology was also proposed to reduce the number of monitored devices. The research that is described in this article was carried out in the context of a project that deals with the development of a digital twin model of a building. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors Influencing Households’ Energy Consumption)

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23 pages, 1606 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Households’ Energy Choices in Rural Pakistan

by Muhammad Ahmar, Fahad Ali, Yuexiang Jiang, Mamdooh Alwetaishi and Sherif S. M. Ghoneim

Energies 2022, 15(9), 3149; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15093149 - 26 Apr 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2922

Abstract

In the wake of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals—zero hunger and affordable modern/clean energy for all—many developing countries have taken serious steps in recent years to increase clean energy access for the rural population. The government of Pakistan has similarly made numerous [...] Read more.

In the wake of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals—zero hunger and affordable modern/clean energy for all—many developing countries have taken serious steps in recent years to increase clean energy access for the rural population. The government of Pakistan has similarly made numerous efforts to promote the use of clean energy sources in the rural areas of the country. Therefore, this study examines rural households’ energy choices for cooking and lighting in Pakistan. In doing so, a comprehensive dataset is collected from three different districts of Pakistan between 2020 and 2021, and multivariate probit (MVP) model and Chi-square tests are employed. The Chi-square results indicate that the age, education level, and occupation of the household-head; household size and income; distance to market and wood source; and biogas system ownership are the significant factors affecting cooking choices. The MVP results show that an increase in education level, school-going children, access to credit facilities, and gender (female) are the key positive factors, whereas an increase in the distance to nearest market/road, household size, and age are the factors that negatively affect the likelihood of using clean energy sources for lighting. While comparing the propensity to use modern/clean energy fuels across the three districts, infrastructural development and literacy rate were found to be crucial factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors Influencing Households’ Energy Consumption)

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24 pages, 1864 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Academic Topics Related to Household Energy Consumption Using the Future Sign Detection Technique

by Minkyu Kim and Chankook Park

Energies 2021, 14(24), 8446; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14248446 - 14 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2316

Abstract

With the emergence of new technologies and policies to transition to clean energy, the household energy consumption sector is also changing. In response to policy, environmental, and technical changes, researchers need to find out what significant issues are related to household energy consumption, [...] Read more.

With the emergence of new technologies and policies to transition to clean energy, the household energy consumption sector is also changing. In response to policy, environmental, and technical changes, researchers need to find out what significant issues are related to household energy consumption, and comprehensively analyze which issues are likely to attract attention in the future to contribute to research in the household sector. Based on the abstracts of academic papers published between 2011 and 2020, this study uses probabilistic topic modeling to increase understanding of academic issues in the household energy consumption sector and statistically reviews changes in issues over time. As a result of the analysis, topics related to digitalization and renewable energy, such as microgrid system, smart home, residential solar power generation systems, and non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM), belonging to Strong signals, are being actively studied. Weak Signals, which can attract attention in the future, are included in discussions on coal energy consumption, air pollutant emissions, energy poverty, and energy performance evaluation. The analysis results show that carbon neutrality, such as decarbonization and fossil energy consumption reduction, is expanding to research in the household energy consumption sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors Influencing Households’ Energy Consumption)

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22 pages, 16449 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differences in the Domestic Energy Consumption in Hungary: Trends between 2006–2017

by Ágnes Győri, Ákos Huszár and Karolina Balogh

Energies 2021, 14(20), 6718; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14206718 - 15 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1679

Abstract

Goal 7 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, adopted in 2015, sets out universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy, but even in developed countries, this is still difficult to achieve. European comparative studies show that in Mediterranean and Central European countries, [...] Read more.

Goal 7 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, adopted in 2015, sets out universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy, but even in developed countries, this is still difficult to achieve. European comparative studies show that in Mediterranean and Central European countries, including Hungary, access to adequate energy remains a serious problem for certain social groups. The aim of the study is to examine the inequalities in access to and consumption of energy in Hungary. We pay special attention to presenting changes over time and examine what changes have taken place in household energy consumption since the years before the global economic crisis. We also explore the major socio-economic and building-related factors that increase the risk of possible energy vulnerability. For our analysis, we draw on data from a large sample survey conducted in 2007, 2013 and 2018 on a representative probability sample. Our results showed on the one hand the fundamental role of different combinations of energy sources used by households in the intensity of energy consumption, and on the other hand that besides the characteristics of the property concerned, the energy use and behaviour patterns of households are determined by the socio-demographic characteristics of the household as well. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors Influencing Households’ Energy Consumption)

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19 pages, 2025 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Beyond the Energy Poor/Non Energy Poor Divide: Energy Vulnerability and Mindsets on Energy Generation Modes in Hungary

by Adrienne Csizmady, Zoltán Ferencz, Lea Kőszeghy and Gergely Tóth

Energies 2021, 14(20), 6487; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14206487 - 10 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1718

Abstract

In the Hungarian as well as the international literature, debates regarding the methodology used for measuring energy poverty are ongoing. Our contribution sought to develop a methodology that would be relatively easy to measure via survey and have the potential to identify households’ [...] Read more.

In the Hungarian as well as the international literature, debates regarding the methodology used for measuring energy poverty are ongoing. Our contribution sought to develop a methodology that would be relatively easy to measure via survey and have the potential to identify households’ energy vulnerability status beyond the energy poor/non energy poor divide. Based on a representative survey that was carried out in Hungary in 2018, we identified three groups of households: energy poor, non energy poor households, and a so-called transitional group, potentially at risk of energy poverty. In addition to socioeconomic differences, we analysed differences in the mindsets of respondents belonging to these three household groups concerning different aspects of heating energy generation (macrolevel aspects, such as environmental sustainability and energy supply system issues, and microlevel aspects, such as economic and technical issues). By this, the article aims to provide input for further research on factors, beyond the social and economic background, related to energy vulnerability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors Influencing Households’ Energy Consumption)

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17 pages, 676 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study of Factors Influencing on Passive and Active Acceptance of Home Energy Management Services with Internet of Things

by Chankook Park and Min Jeong

Energies 2021, 14(12), 3631; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14123631 - 18 Jun 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1711

Abstract

Since awareness of the influence of home energy management services (HEMS) with Internet of things (IoT) has grown, the study on the acceptance of IoT services has been expanded. Previous studies, however, have not paid attention to the acceptance itself, focusing only on [...] Read more.

Since awareness of the influence of home energy management services (HEMS) with Internet of things (IoT) has grown, the study on the acceptance of IoT services has been expanded. Previous studies, however, have not paid attention to the acceptance itself, focusing only on factors affecting the acceptance. This study attempts to draw meaningful implications by exploring the relationships between the acceptance and the factors affecting it with distinctions between passive acceptance and active acceptance. This study analyzed the ordinal logistic regression models based on a survey of 909 adults 19 years of age and older in Korea on HEMS with IoT. In addition, we attempt the ordinal forest to increase the reliability of the research results. As a result, this study showed that consumers’ perception of usefulness was noticeably important to enhance active acceptance and that those who had high sensitivity to new technology acceptance showed high active acceptance, and older women had higher active acceptance. This study might contribute to the research on IoT acceptance in the energy management sector by classifying the acceptance into active acceptance and passive acceptance beyond the framework of setting the acceptance as a single variable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors Influencing Households’ Energy Consumption)

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