Simulation framework for load management and behavioral energy efficiency analysis in smart homes

Abstract

Most of today’s technological advances related to electricity consumption boast being intelligent and able to communicate with other smart devices, owners, and suppliers. But regardless of the smart appliances, control interfaces, flexible demand services, and the willingness of the user to save energy, it is challenging to achieve energy efficiency at households due to the lack of synchronization, loss of information, and misuse of devices, as well as the shortage of simulations and models that allow evaluate the human factor. Hence, the efficient management of electrical devices in households and consumption patterns under different conditions must be studied in conjunction, which is possible with simulation tools to emulate decision-making processes of energy management and demand-side management systems, different types of user, and controllers of conventional and smart electrical devices. This paper proposes a simulation framework to efficiently manage a group of home appliances and lighting systems of a smart home, according to the disposition of users to modify their consumption patterns through a multimedia interface, analyzing the behavioral energy efficiency. In this proposal, the probability of using loads in different periods and their features as power and controllability, are taking into account to classify and prioritize them; with fuzzy logic type II, load groups are controlled according to user preferences and managed optimally. There were simulated scenarios with different consumption conditions, price schemes, and types of users, showing reductions in electricity bills, avoiding peak rates and reducing power or time of use.