Modeling and simulation of the domestic energy use in Belgium following a bottom-up approach

The present paper presents a “bottom-up” approach dedicated to the modeling and
simulation of the domestic energy use. This methodology focuses first on a microanalysis
(i.e. modeling and simulation of a set of representative households). Results
from this micro-analysis are then used and extended to allow drawing conclusions
at a macro-scale. The methodology can be validated by comparing simulation
results to annual national energy consumption indexes or synthetic load profiles
(energy consumption profiles generated from values of predefined past periods).
Once the method is validated, it can be used to study the impact of different retrofit
scenarios on the annual energy use and on the energy demand profiles.
This paper describes the methodology developed for Belgium.