Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications
The application of smartphone technology to economic and environmental analysis of building energy conservation strategies
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2012
Volume
31
Issue
5
Journal
International Journal of Sustainable Energy
First Page
295
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1080/1478646X.2011.578746
Last Page
311
Abstract
This paper investigates the use of smartphone technology as a tool to implement building energy audit programmes to increase energy conservation measure (ECM) uptake and concomitant environmental and economic benefits. The smartphone audit analysed provides an energy audit platform with: (i) quasi-real time analysis, (ii) continuous user engagement, (iii) geospatial customization, (iv) additional ECMs, (v) ECM ranking and user education, and (vi) the ability to constantly evolve. A case study of 157,000 homes in Southeastern Ontario shows that 55 years is needed to complete energy audits for all dwellings in the region following a traditional energy audit model. However, the results of the smartphone-based audit programme accelerates this in both terms of audits completed and cumulative carbon dioxide savings over a sensitivity range of audit effectiveness. It is concluded that an advanced and expanded home energy auditing programme that uses smartphone technology could provide significant economic and environmental benefits. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.