Title: Development of methodology for the assessment of changes in household electricity consumption and calculation of CO₂ emissions

Authors: Ilze Laicane; Andra Blumberga; Marika Rosa; Dagnija Blumberga; Uldis Bariss

Addresses: Faculty of Power and Electrical Engineering, Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, Kronvalda boulevard 1, LV-1010, Riga, Latvia ' Faculty of Power and Electrical Engineering, Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, Kronvalda boulevard 1, LV-1010, Riga, Latvia ' Faculty of Power and Electrical Engineering, Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, Kronvalda boulevard 1, LV-1010, Riga, Latvia ' Faculty of Power and Electrical Engineering, Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, Kronvalda boulevard 1, LV-1010, Riga, Latvia ' The Public Limited Company Latvenergo, Pulkveza Brieza iela 12, Riga, LV-1230, Latvia

Abstract: This study outlines a methodology for assessing changes in household electricity consumption and CO₂ emissions. The method is proposed to analyse large datasets of residential electricity consumption in the case study of the first smart metering pilot project in Latvia. The goal of the project is to achieve a reduction of electricity consumption in households by 10%. In order to do so project aims to increase household user's awareness of smart technologies, as well as to promote households' involvement in energy efficiency measures. The proposed methodology is based on several steps, including: 1) baseline situation analysis; 2) normalisation of electricity consumption data; 3) identification of the factors affecting household electricity consumption; 4) an empirical analysis of households' electricity consumption using regression analysis; 5) assessment of changes in electricity consumption at the end of evaluation period and 6) calculation of CO₂ emissions. Finally, the first results of the smart metering pilot project in nine-month period have been presented. The recommendations for policy development on promoting smart metering have been raised at the end of this paper.

Keywords: smart metering; household electricity consumption; CO2; carbon dioxide; carbon emissions; global warming; energy consumption; household consumption; Latvia; case study; user awareness; energy efficiency.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2015.071582

International Journal of Global Warming, 2015 Vol.8 No.1, pp.114 - 131

Received: 22 Mar 2014
Accepted: 22 Mar 2014
Published online: 02 Sep 2015 *

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