Investigating the Role of Occupant Behavior in Design Energy Poverty Strategies. Insights from Energy Simulation Results

Energy poverty is very much interlinked with housing stock characteristics in terms of energy performance. Energy-led building renovation within the social housing stock combines the energy-saving goal with social and economic co-benefits (e.g., poverty alleviation and health improvements), thus contributing to facing stigmatization, social segregation and energy poverty, particularly prevalent in the social housing sector. However, to design renovation strategies aimed at achieving multi-benefits rather than just improving the buildings energy performance still remains a challenge, and considerations concerning energy poverty alleviation are far from being embedded. To the aim of this investigation, building energy renovation is believed to be a key opportunity to roll-out a comprehensive urban regeneration strategy with the goal of tackling energy poverty. However, at the same time, it is important to acknowledge that the gap between expected and actual energy consumption in buildings is highly dependent upon the human factor. Indeed, energy saving is not only a matter of technology, but it is influenced by the use by and the behavior of occupants. The overall aim of the paper is to provide an insight into building energy simulation and occupant behavior modeling as tools to support policymakers in making decisions on which strategies to apply to energy poverty through improvement of energy efficiency of public housing stock. To do so, this contribution investigates the impact of occupant behavior to reduce energy consumption at the household level. The Italian public housing sector is taken as a reference. A multi-family public housing building is assumed as a case study. Three dwellings with different sizes and exposures are considered, having three different occupancy patterns in turn. The results show to what extent the heating loads are influenced by occupant behavior and dwelling characteristics. The results are then discussed to form a basis for exploring how and to what extent housing policies and energy-led regeneration strategies can contribute to addressing energy poverty.