Development of an interactive energy management web application for residential end users

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Energy efficiency, as the effective use of energy, is recognized as one of the simplest ways toimprove the sustainable use of resources and by implication involves the end-user.The 2008 power crisis which South Africa experienced, highlighted supply exigencies andprompted a subsequent emphasis on affordable, rapidly scalable solutions, notably energyefficiency. As the establishment of new supply capacity is both costly and time-consuming,the logical alternative has been to focus intervention on the demand side. Residentialelectrical end-use has been identified as an area where the potential for change exists andstrategies to address residential demand have gained momentum. The vulnerability of energysystems affects energy security on technical, economic and social levels. South Africanconsumers are confronted with rising living costs and a substantial increase in electricity prices according to the Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity (2010-2030).Integral to addressing end-use is the ensuing behaviour of the end-user. End-use analysisaims to grasp and model customer usage by considering the electric demand per customertype, end-use category, appliance type and time of use.This project has focussed on the development of an interactive web application as a tool forresidential end-users to improve energy efficiency through modified consumption behaviourand the adoption of energy efficient habits. The objectives have been aimed at educating anend-user through exposure to energy efficient guidelines and consumption analysis. Based ona Time Of Use-framework, a consumer's understanding of appliance usage profiles can helprealize the cost benefits associated with appliance scheduling.In order to achieve the desired functionality and with extendibility and ease of maintenance inmind, the application relies on the provision of dynamic content by means of a relationaldatabase structured around end-use categories and appliance types. In an effort to conveyonly relevant information in the simplest way, current web technology was evaluated. Theresulting design has favoured an interactive, minimalistic, graphic presentation of content in the form of a Rich Internet Application.The development process has been divided into two phases. The residential energyconsumption context has been substantiated with a case study of which the main objectiveand outcome has been to devise a methodology to generate usage profiles for householdappliances. Phase one of the development process has been completed, as well as the casestudy. The conceptualization and framework for phase two has been established and therecommendation is to incorporate the methodology and usage profile results from the casestudy for implementation of the second phase. The effectiveness of the tool can only beevaluated once phase two of the application is complete. A beta release version of the finalproduct can then be made available to a focus group for feedback.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University