%0 Figure %A Salamanca, F %A Georgescu, M %A Mahalov, A %A Moustaoui, M %A Wang, M %A M Svoma, B %D 2013 %T Diurnal mean AC consumption values obtained with the urban scheme and with the four methodologies to estimate the human behavior consumption during the 10-day EWD period in July 2009 (the AC consumption values derived from SRP's data set were multiplied by a factor of 2.08) %U https://iop.figshare.com/articles/figure/_Diurnal_mean_AC_consumption_values_obtained_with_the_urban_scheme_and_with_the_four_methodologies_t/1011555 %R 10.6084/m9.figshare.1011555.v1 %2 https://iop.figshare.com/ndownloader/files/1479380 %K WRF simulations %K modeling AC electricity consumption %K behavior consumption %K July 2009 %K AC systems %K load values %K evening hours %K air conditioning %K srp %K building energy scheme %K electricity consumption %K utility company %K AC consumption values %K environment energy demand %K ewd %K Weather Research %K consumption requirements %K heat events %K Environmental Science %X

Figure 5. Diurnal mean AC consumption values obtained with the urban scheme and with the four methodologies to estimate the human behavior consumption during the 10-day EWD period in July 2009 (the AC consumption values derived from SRP's data set were multiplied by a factor of 2.08).

Abstract

Evaluation of built environment energy demand is necessary in light of global projections of urban expansion. Of particular concern are rapidly expanding urban areas in environments where consumption requirements for cooling are excessive. Here, we simulate urban air conditioning (AC) electric consumption for several extreme heat events during summertime over a semiarid metropolitan area with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model coupled to a multilayer building energy scheme. Observed total load values obtained from an electric utility company were split into two parts, one linked to meteorology (i.e., AC consumption) which was compared to WRF simulations, and another to human behavior. WRF-simulated non-dimensional AC consumption profiles compared favorably to diurnal observations in terms of both amplitude and timing. The hourly ratio of AC to total electricity consumption accounted for ~53% of diurnally averaged total electric demand, ranging from ~35% during early morning to ~65% during evening hours. Our work highlights the importance of modeling AC electricity consumption and its role for the sustainable planning of future urban energy needs. Finally, the methodology presented in this article establishes a new energy consumption-modeling framework that can be applied to any urban environment where the use of AC systems is prevalent.

%I IOP Publishing