The Impact of Climate Change on a University Campus’ Energy Use: Use of Machine Learning and Building Characteristics

Abstract

Global warming is expected to increase 1.5 °C between 2030 and 2052. This may lead to an increase in building energy consumption. With the changing climate, university campuses need to prepare to mitigate risks with building energy forecasting models. Although many scholars have developed buildings energy models (BEMs), only a few have focused on the interpretation of the meaning of BEM, including climate change and its impacts. Additionally, despite several review papers on BEMs, there is no comprehensive guideline indicating which variables are appropriate to use to explain building energy consumption. This study developed building energy prediction models by using statistical analysis: multivariate regression models, multiple linear regression (MLR) models, and relative importance analysis. The outputs are electricity (ELC) and steam (STM) consumption. The independent variables used as inputs are building characteristics, temporal variables, and meteorological variables. Results showed that categorizing the campus buildings by building type is critical, and the equipment power density is the most important factor for ELC consumption, while the heating degree is the most critical factor for STM consumption. The laboratory building type is the most STM-consumed building type, so it needs to be monitored closely. The prediction models give an insight into which building factors remain essential and applicable to campus building policy and campus action plans. Increasing STM is to raise awareness of the severity of climate change through future weather scenarios.

Energy Consumption in Higher Education Institutions: A Bibliometric Analysis Focused on Scientific Trends

“…Building Age is a factor influencing EC that has been mentioned in 15 articles. Newer buildings tend to have lower EUI due to better lighting and thermal insulation standards, as well as more efficient systems [90][91][92]. Nevertheless, there is not a complete agreement on this factor, with some authors dismissing its relevance because in some cases EC does not show a statistically significant correlation with Building Age [36].…”

Analyzing Energy Consumption in Universities: A Literature Review

“…The HVAC system's energy consumption depends on the number of occupants. A study by Im et al (2022) developed a model for building energy prediction by using statistical analysis. It shows the influence of climate change on a university campus' energy consumption.…”

Energy Consumption in Higher Education Institutions. A Computational Bibliometric Analysis Focused on Scientific Trends and Common Drivers

“…Building Age is a factor influencing EC that has been mentioned in 15 articles. Newer buildings tend to have lower EUI due to better lighting and thermal insulation standards, and more efficient systems [84][85][86]. Nevertheless, there is not a complete agreement on this factor, with some authors dismissing its relevance because in some cases EC does not show a statistically significative correlation with Building Age [31].…”