Integrating unacknowledged socioeconomic energy vulnerabilities in Urban Building Energy Modelling workflows: Informing intervention strategies for underrepresented communities

Abstract

Urban Building Energy Modeling (UBEM) platforms such as CityBES and UMI primarily utilize EnergyPlus for thermal building-by-building simulations (Jakubiec, 2013) in conjunction with occupancy informed models for thermal comfort (Engineering Reference, 2022). A significant percentage of low-income residents, however, experience energy vulnerability and accordingly register for prepayment plans due to their inability to meet their basic household energy needs (Hernández, 2016). Prepayment plans reduce energy usage due to customers’ decisions but result in thermal discomfort and health concerns (DEFG, 2015). Since current urban modelling platforms do not account for energy vulnerability, the predicted Energy Use Intensity (EUI) for low-income communities can be misleading. This paper evaluates the impact of energy vulnerability on the EUI of the Grove Park Neighborhood, an underrepresented community in Atlanta, Georgia, through reduced energy consumption rate scenarios in the occupancy schedules. Examinations of indoor temperatures illustrated the deviations from projected simulation performance and presnted the implications of hosuing prototype and financial restrictions on compromised thermal comfort conditions. Studies additionally showcase how the effect of retrofit strategies, such as insulation, on energy consumption can be reduced from 25% and 27% to 0.30% and 22% for households in fair and poor conditions, respectively. This paper also suggests effective intervention strategies that should be prioritized due to their effect In reducing EUI and thermal discomfort through calibrated rates of hourly usage.