A model for predicting household end-use energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in Australia

A new tool for predicting the total energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Australian households is developed by integrating the thermal efficiency of the building envelope, installed equipment and appliances, and different occupancy profiles with energy end-use modules for space heating, space cooling, water heating, lighting, and plug-in appliances. Space heating and cooling energy consumption are simulated by an enhanced version of a house energy rating tool - AccuRate, modified to account for specific heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system efficiency and occupancy profile. Individual modules for hot water, lighting and appliances are developed, calibrated and assessed against available published end-use data in Australia and New Zealand. The tool's integrated capability to predict the annual energy consumption of a tenant-occupied house in Melbourne is validated with actual data measured over a 12-month period.