Building Energy Consumption

The dataset contains simulated building‑design configurations together with the resulting heating energy‑use intensity (EUI Heating). It is generated through a parametric building‑energy simulation workflow that systematically varies architectural and operational features. The data are intended to illustrate how causal dependencies among design variables can influence energy‑performance outcomes, and how ignoring these dependencies may lead to misleading inferences even when predictive accuracy appears satisfactory. The target variable is the heating Energy Usage Intensity (EUI) measured in [kWh/m²·a], and the feature set reflects typical parameters used in building‑performance and occupant‑behavior studies.

Task: The dataset can be used to study causal discovery methods.

Summary: 

Size of dataset: 918 x 31

Task: Causal Discovery Problem

Data Type: Mixed Data

Dataset Scope: Standalone Dataset

Ground Truth: Unknown Graph

Temporal Structure: Static Data

License: MIT

Missing Values: No Missing Values

Features:

Simulation: Simulation number

Terrain: Surrounding terrain. (Suburbs / Urban / Country / City)

Orientation: Building rotation angle [°]

NumberOfFloors: Number of storeys

FloorHeight: Floor-to-floor height [m]

Shading: Shading type (Low-SHGC-Value / External-Shading)

EnergyStandard: Insulation standard (GEG / NZEB / Passive)

HVAC-System: Heating system type (ASHPBaseboard / BoilerBaseboard / DHWBaseboard). ASHP = air-source heat pump; DH = district heating.

ServiceHotWater: Hot water system (Electric_TanklessHeater / Electric_WaterHeater / Gas_TanklessHeater / Gas_WaterHeater)

BuildingSystemVintage: Year of building system (pre_1980 / 1980_2004 / 2004 / 2007 / 2010 / 2013 / 2016 / 2019)

Open Office: Heating Setpoint: Heating thermostat setpoint, open office [°C]

Open Office: Cooling Setpoint: Cooling thermostat setpoint, open office [°C]

Open Office: ACH: Air change rate, open office [1/h]

Open Office: PPA: Occupant density, open office [people/m²]

Meeting: Heating Setpoint: Heating thermostat setpoint, meeting room [°C]

Meeting: Cooling Setpoint: Cooling thermostat setpoint, meeting room [°C]

Meeting: ACH: Air change rate, meeting room [1/h]

Meeting: PPA Volume [m³]: Occupant density, meeting room [people/m²]

Area [m²]: Gross floor area

Construction Area [%]: Areas covered by walls, columns, or any structural elements.

Window to Wall Ratio North [%]: Glazing fraction, north façade

Window to Wall Ratio East [%]: Glazing fraction, east façade

Window to Wall Ratio South [%]: Glazing fraction, south façade

Window to Wall Ratio West [%]: Glazing fraction, west façade

Window to Wall Ratio [%]: Aggregated glazing fraction, all façades

HVAC-System Capacity [kW]: Total installed HVAC capacity

Baseboard Capacity Sum [kW]: Total installed baseboard heater capacity

EUI [kWh/m²a]: Total energy use intensity

EUI Heating [kWh/m²a]: Heating energy use intensity

EUI Electricity [kWh]: Total electricity consumption

Files: 

dibe_2023_occupant_behavior_raw.csv:  Raw simulation dataset      

dibe_2023_occupant_behavior_analysis.csv:  Processed dataset used in the paper’s analysis