Evaluation of home energy efficiency improvements in a hot desert climate in northwestern mexico: The energy saving vs. money saving conflict

Edgar Valenzuela, Hector Campbell, Gisela Montero, Marcos A. Coronado, Alejandro A. Lambert-Arista, Carlos Perez-Tello, Víctor H. Ramos-Sanchez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reducing household energy consumption is one of the most important strategies used to decrease fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gases emissions, and to encourage renewable energy utilization. Most energy conservation strategies in the domestic sector are aimed at preferential loans, i.e., purchasing renewable electricity or to improve the efficiency of home appliances, such as air conditioning and lighting. However, despite the relative economic successes of these technologies, they have not had expected impacts in regard to energy consumption. In this work, the authors analyzed the consumption patterns of two equivalent households—one was adapted with improved thermal insulation and a 1.2 kW photovoltaic system to reduce consumption from the electrical grid. The results show that dwellings where no improvements were made registered lower electric energy consumption, due the fact that users were aware that no strategy had been implemented, and its consumption; hence, electricity payments depended solely on one’s attention over the electronic device operations. On the other hand, energy conservation strategies in households promotes confident and relaxed attitudes toward the use of energy, leading to lower energy billings, but a higher gross energy consumption.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number7909
JournalEnergies
Volume14
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Energy efficiency
  • Household energy consumption
  • Rebound effect
  • Renewable generation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Building and Construction
  • Fuel Technology
  • Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Energy (miscellaneous)
  • Control and Optimization
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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