A Parametric Modeling Analysis of Architectural Variables and their Impacts on Energy Consumption in a Baseline Pennsylvania Single-Family Home

Buildings have substantial impacts on energy consumption, the environment, and overall comfort of occupants. Rapidly increasing energy use associated with the building sector is a significant and growing problem. Despite advances in energy efficiency and building technology, U.S. energy consumption and resources use per capita continue to increase. This paper examines residential energy performance in a Pennsylvania (PA) single family home, to assess the impact of the most optimal options of building upgrades. Energy consumption in the residential sector has remained relatively steady for several years as increased energy efficiency gains has offset the surge in the number and average size of housing units. To that end, the average area of a U.S. home increased 45% from 1970s. Alternatively, the average number of occupants per household decreased 15% from 1970s. Both of these are alarming trends as it pertains to overall energy use outlooks. As a result, the steady downward energy consumption patterns are threatened to be offset by those trends. Hence, these trends could have negative impacts on energy efficiency gains and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2018, the residential sector consumed approximately 21% of the total primary energy produced in the U.S., compared to just 10% in the late 1940’s. Furthermore, total annual U.S. residential energy swelled from a mere 6,000 trillion Btu’s in the 1950’s to almost 22,000 trillion Btu’s in 2016. As a result, 6% of total U.S. GHG emissions are attributed to the residential sector. Given the significant size of this industry, there is tremendous potential to reduce energy use and associated environmental impacts. For example, Pennsylvania could yield a 6.9% reduction of the state’s residential energy market load by 2020 if robust optimal energy conservation measures (ECMs) are adopted in single-family homes. Current and future market trends are projecting a steady increase in home size and population growth, which will inevitably exacerbate environmental and energy use issues further. Left unaddressed, the implications of population growth, rising energy prices, proliferation of modern home appliances and electronics, steadily increasing home sizes, and energy shortages could be profoundly detrimental to overall energy consumption patterns and the environment. This paper reviews the state of residential energy consumption patterns in the US and Pennsylvania specifically, to understand the underlying mechanisms of energy saving mechanisms and methodologies. Furthermore, the paper examines a myriad of energy efficiency measures available to homeowners. Lastly, the study assesses the impacts of building upgrades on energy use in a baseline PA single-family home via a parametric modeling approach, to provide comprehensive energy conservation and efficiency recommendations.