Smart meters measure the total energy consumption for an entire building. Studies have shown that providing detailed, disaggregated information on energy consumption for individual appliances is more effective than presenting aggregate information.
Department: Construction Management & Engineering
Supervised by: Mate Lorincz
One of the most cost-effective and straightforward methods to enhance energy efficiency involves monitoring electricity usage through a type of smart meter known as a "home energy monitor," available for approximately 拢40. These devices provide real-time displays of whole-house consumption, enabling users to identify energy-intensive devices and behaviours. Studies indicate that feedback from energy monitors can lead to a 5-15% reduction in consumption. If every household in the UK reduced electricity usage by 10%, the country's annual CO2 emissions could decrease by 6 million tonnes. Despite their benefits, home energy monitors, which measure overall consumption for an entire building, may not provide as useful information as disaggregated data showing energy consumption appliance by appliance鈥攁 finding supported by research. Measurable.energy provided us with smart plugs to enable the collection of data at the appliance level. The monitors have been installed in the Chancellor's building, and our objective is to systematically monitor and explore the energy consumption data collected by the monitors. One potential benefit is that it would assist us in quantifying both the energy and carbon consumption of the lab's PCs.
In the context described, the student undertaking the placement is likely to engage in various tasks Data Collection: Systematically collect data on energy consumption at the appliance level using the installed smart plugs. Data Analysis: Analyze the collected data to identify patterns, trends, and energy-intensive behaviors. Work on disaggregating data to understand the specific energy consumption of individual appliances. Writing a technical document: Prepare reports detailing findings from the energy consumption analysis. Collaboration with Measurable.energy: Collaborate with Measurable.energy representatives to ensure effective use of smart plugs and monitors. Communicate with relevant stakeholders within the Chancellor's building to gather additional insights. Quantification of Environmental Impact: Evaluate the potential environmental impact of reduced electricity usage. Use data analysis to quantify the expected decrease in CO2 emissions if energy reduction goals are met. Exploration of Lab PCs Energy Consumption:Apply data collection and analysis skills to monitor and explore the energy consumption of PCs in the lab. Identify opportunities for optimizing energy usage in the lab setting.
For the described placement, the student would benefit from having the following skills, knowledge, and experience: Technical Skills: Data Analysis: Skills in analyzing energy consumption data and identifying patterns. Use of Phyton or R programming language is required Communication and Collaboration: Effective communication skills to collaborate with Measurable.energy representatives and stakeholders in the Chancellor's building. Ability to convey findings and insights in a clear and concise manner. Research Skills: Research skills to explore existing literature and findings on energy efficiency and disaggregated data in smart metering.Basic technical knowledge related to smart home technologies, energy meters, and home automation. Willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies, methodologies, and industry best practices.
Knowledge Transfer: Share knowledge and insights gained from the placement with relevant stakeholders. Provide guidance on potential strategies for energy conservation and sustainability.
Chancellor's Building
9am-5pm
Wednesday 03 July 2024 - Sunday 11 August 2024
The deadline to apply for this project is 5pm on Friday 10th May 2024. To make an application, please go to the following link and complete the application form: https://forms.office.com/e/LDxskffW5H. Please remember the title of the project (listed at the top of the page) as you will need this to locate the project on the application form.