ERS 669 – Team Research Project

“Changes That Work: Evaluating Household Energy Reduction Technologies”

Conrad ______, Eric Liberda, Stephen Mooney, and Michael Pelton(names in apha order)

Purpose and Objective

Determine most acceptable ways of reducing GHG emissions related to household energy systems.

Focus on energy management that will ultimately reduce total demand load and reduce GHG emissions.

In Ontario, this means: reducing electricity use during the day switching appropriate loads to natural gas, reducing natural gas consumption.

Method

1. Implement different programs in 4 groups of 10 homes for a period of 8 weeks during the winter and summer. The programs range in scale, complexity, end user involvement, and changes to daily activities.

2. Collect and analyze energy usage data related to effect of program changes. Correlate results with a projection of a potential greater effect on the provincial energy system.

3. Survey participants to determine attitudes, education value, willingness to continue with project, and comments for improvement.

Scenario parameters

Usage type: residential, commercialDensity: parents/children, employees etc,

per unit areaSocial setting/ neighbourhoodStudy participants: 10 / scenarioLoad focus: Lighting, Heating, Cooling,

Cooking, Refrigerator, Dryer, Electronics, Small appliances – hair dryers, fans etc.

Program options

Small Scale: small changes, no real inconvenience, maybe a slow cooker/micro/toaster oven

Medium Scale: lifestyle usage patterns, update, eliminate

High Scale: high-tech, geo-thermal, control systems, keep lifestyle

The Scenarios (beta version)

Scenario 1 – “The Basics” Residential – 2 parents, 2 children, similar neighbourhood,

similar size houses CFL light bulbs, low flow shower head, leak proofing slow cooker, smaller oven

Scenario 2 – “The Basics” Industrial – Small business CFL light bulbs, light motion detectors, smart taps

Scenario 3 – “High Tech” Residential - 2 parents, 2 children, similar neighbourhood,

similar size houses Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) – Co-generation (or PEMs etc..)

Scenario 4 – “High Tech” Industrial – Geo-thermal system ( can we do that?)

With 4 scenarios, we loose the middle of the road attempt..

What I did was make a residential and industrial equiv. for both high and low – feel free to change that

Still need a “research question”I’m available to meet any time on Monday

(obviously before class)