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• The paper has a focus on energy consumption habits and trends using statistical methods. • Occupants' behavior is monitored using smart metering system and awareness surveys. • The impact of a serious game on occupant's behavior is evaluated. The paper has a focus on energy consumption habits, trends and intervention strategies in residential buildings, mainly through the serious game approach with a combination of direct consumer feedback through smart metering. More than 150 homes in France and Spain have been involved in the research experiment and the consumption habits of approximately 50 homes were deeply analyzed. The applied methods, processes, results and findings of the monitoring data analysis are presented in the paper with two aims. First, consumption profiles and trends were determined for apartment homes with regard to heating, domestic hot water and electric consumption. Second, the impact of a serious game experiment was assessed comparing energy consumption, indoor air temperature and users' habits (based on questionnaires) before and after launching the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop a rigorous theoretical framework and a practical implementation for the evaluation of the energy- and cost-saving potential of buildings. The goal is to promote sustainability in the context of building energetics by achieving the most efficient, optimal exploitation of the financial resources available for refurbishments. The practical realization of this concept requires the evaluation of the optimal refurbishment cost that maximizes the net energetic or financial savings during the life cycle of the building. On the one hand, too small a refurbishment cost might lock-in a substantial amount of energy and cost savings potential. On the other hand, refurbishment costs that are too high due to unnecessarily implemented energy-saving measures are likely to waste financial resources. The key concept behind the theory is the novel definition of the reference value used for the computation of the energy- and cost-saving potentials. From a mathematical point of view, the reference value is obtained by two subsequent optimizations. First, a constrained, single-objective optimization is used to evaluate the best energetic state of the building as a function of the refurbishment cost. Second, a simple unconstrained search must be performed to obtain the minimum value and the minimum place of the one-dimensional cost function. The proposed framework automatically provides personalized solutions corresponding to the actual technical characteristics of the building. These solutions are optimal under the given circumstances of the actual refurbishment, resulting in either the highest possible energy- or cost-saving amounts during the life cycle of the building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state support programs on retrofitting buildings built with prefabricated technology has a decade-long history in Hungary. The launch of the Green Investment Scheme (GIS) in 2009 has introduced a new path: the performance-oriented approach. The new model is designed for implementing more complex renovations on a deeper level. The system is in accordance with the EPBD (EPBD, 2002) and exact savings must be quantified for all projects. The present paper outlines the past and the present of the problem concerning buildings built with prefabricated technology in Hungary with a short outlook to a few other countries. Afterwards, the performance-oriented support scheme is presented. The main output of the work is the analysis of 70 projects of the GIS. It proposes a methodology to test the efficiency of the scheme and to provide feedback in order to improve the support scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent work aimed at the determination of the correct film coefficient value at design, since the practical experiences do not ensure the theory. It was proved by monitoring the film coefficient value along the edges and at thermal bridges and showing that it differs From the overall standard design value and varies in function with the temperature and several further random effects. Therefore, different h[sub i] values should be taken into consideration while calculation heating load and surface temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this literature review was to outline the research currently conducted on smart meter (SM) adoption and its connection to building occupant behavior to better understand both SM technology and SM customers. We compiled our findings from the existing literature and developed a holistic understanding of the socio-demographic factors that lead to more or less energy use, the methods used to group and cluster occupants on the basis of energy use, how occupant energy use profiles are developed, and which socio-psychological determinants may influence SM adoption. Our results highlight 11 demographic variables that impact building energy use, find 9 methods commonly used to profile occupants on the basis of energy usage, and highlight 13 socio-psychological variables than can be utilized to better understand SM adoption intentions. The review findings two major deficiencies in the existing literature. First, this review highlights the lack of existing interdisciplinary research that combines occupant behavior with SM data and a clear socio-psychological framework. Second, this review underscores certain data limitations in existing SM research, with most research being conducted only on residential or office buildings and geographically in North America or Western Europe. Final policy recommendations center on increased need for interdisciplinary SM research and the need for an expanded understanding of occupant behavior and SM research across different geographies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We set up a methodology for adaptation and mitigation strategies of cities. [•] The methodology is based on a generalized residential building typology. [•] Assessing the mitigation potential by refurbishment according to regulations. [•] Estimating the vulnerability to wind storms of residential buildings. [•] A case study is implemented in Hungary. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]