Doctoral thesis (Dissertations and theses)
The human factor in the energy performance assessments for renovation strategies of existing urban houses in Wallonia
Monfils, Stéphane
2018
 

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Keywords :
energy performance of buildings; EPB certification; sociology of energy; energy behaviours; prebound gap
Abstract :
[en] In order to reach energy efficiency at any level, the importance of the human factor has to be acknowledged. On one hand, efficient solutions (regarding, for example, building energy consumptions) have to be implemented by an authority who understands the complexity of the urban context and its impacts on the environment; on the other hand, it is important to improve citizens’ awareness of their environmental impact and to lead them to use available solutions to their full potential. In the field of residential use of energy, people are therefore a crucial parameter of both the problem and its solution. The EPC has been designed by authorities to “provide clear information about the energy performance of a building”, in order to influence the real-estate market, promote energy performance improvements and help build up comprehensive benchmarking databases, fundamental for shaping strategies on a local or regional level. The EPC, however, offers in return of a 200€ visit, results that are often too distant from reality and difficult to understand for the lay person. “Consumers do not understand CO2 or kWh”. They do not understand “primary energy” either, given that their only knowledge of their energy consumption are the final energy bills. The procedure might be necessary, but the general picture shows a great opportunity remaining underexploited, a potential driver to reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions, surrounded by barriers and obstacles that render its use all the more difficult. While appreciating the necessity of presenting a “legal” result as a comparison base, following the approved standardized calculation method, it is believed that the input data used in the quasi-steady state calculation method could be used to display complementary results. Additional data on the household’s composition, their practices and behaviours related to energy consumption, as well as a more accurate search in the description of the energy system, could help close the gap between real and theoretical consumptions, allowing future owners to better understand and appropriate the EPC results, foresee a rough monthly energy bill, and make better decisions for their real-estate renovation ambitions. This PhD-thesis therefore first sets the context of residential energy use in Wallonia, before questioning the uncertainty parameters of the certification procedure. A questionnaire, built for this research, allowed the interview of 16 case studies, and the collection of their energy-related behaviours and practices. Based on the existing inputs, protocol and global philosophy of the EPC procedure, a modification of the calculation method is suggested in order to integrate the answers to the questionnaire. The results of the many simulations, and those of the sensitivity analysis on the modifications, are presented in the second part of this thesis, followed by conclusions and perspectives for the future.
Disciplines :
Energy
Author, co-author :
Monfils, Stéphane ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > DER Sc. et gest. de l'environnement (Arlon Campus Environ.) > Energie et développement durable (EnergySuD)
Language :
English
Title :
The human factor in the energy performance assessments for renovation strategies of existing urban houses in Wallonia
Alternative titles :
[fr] Etude du facteur humain dans les évaluations de la performance énergétique pour le stratégies de rénovation de maisons urbaines existantes en Wallonie
Defense date :
22 August 2018
Number of pages :
354 + 76
Institution :
ULiège - Université de Liège
Degree :
Docteur en Sciences
Promotor :
Hauglustaine, Jean-Marie ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement (Arlon Campus Environnement)
President :
Andre, Philippe ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement (Arlon Campus Environnement) > Socio-économie, Environnement et Développement (SEED)
Secretary :
Godin, Isabelle
Jury member :
Mormont, Marc ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement (Arlon Campus Environnement)
Boreux, Jean-Jacques ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement (Arlon Campus Environnement) > Surveillance de l'environnement
Patterson, Joanne
Fourez, Benoît
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since 01 October 2018

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