The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential of end-users effect on energy conservation in office buildings. The study estimates the current level of energy management of four end-user organisations and quantifies the energy conservation potential of their offices by simulating several end-user scenarios for energy conservation.
Methods
Research design
The study uses a multiple case study approach with embedded units of analysis (computers, displays, lighting, etc.). It employs a quantitative scenario analysis for estimating the energy conservation potential in the use of office equipment and lighting, as well as a qualitative model for estimating the present status of end-user energy management (EUEM). The research involved the following steps:
With the support of the senior management, the energy management experts from each company were invited into a starting workshop. In the workshop, the objectives of the processes were defined and the practical data collecting procedures were planned. A total of ten persons from the four organisation cases along with the researcher were actively involved in the data collection and six workshops during the project.
The amount of office space used by the case-study organisations was determined based on the company databases.
The current consumption of energy in organisations was determined based on energy bills and energy sourcing documents.
The current level of energy management was estimated using a qualitative self-assessment matrix.
The data for office equipment were collected from company records and supplemented with expert interviews and walkthroughs in the office spaces.
The office lighting data were collected from company records and office blueprints and were further supplemented with expert interviews.
The current end-user-energy consumption was calculated based for the current office equipment and lighting systems using energy simulation methods.