Simulated heating energy demand for two residential neighbourhoods

The large-scale and comprehensive artificial dataset introduced in this research reflects the energy demands of two neighbourhoods and with some reasonable limitations mimics monitoring campaigns otherwise collected on-site from buildings in use. The monitoring campaigns are created using white-box simulation models for single-family houses representing typical neighbourhoods in Flanders. The datasets are generated using Dymola and the IDEAS package embedded in TEASER. Each house varies in geometry, size, envelope properties, occupancy schedules, and installed gas heating systems. In this research, two datasets are created, one reflecting the properties of a low-performing building stock dating before the introduction of the EPBD (2006), and the other reflecting properties of a well-performing stock built after 2006. The envelope properties for older houses are allocated using EPC data grouped in four construction periods, while for newly built houses the properties are based on EPB reports, both were collected in Flanders. The datasets include heavy-weight houses in a detached, semi-detached, or terraced typology. Furthermore, the houses are simulated as one or two-zone buildings, depending on the number of floors which range from one to three floors. In the simulations, a natural infiltration model is implemented as well as a stochastic occupant behaviour model mimicking gains from occupants and appliances. Due to the complexity of the large-scale simulation, the heating system is post-processed in a data-driven approach and the heat source for both datasets are gas-fired heating systems. In total six system configurations are considered including condensing and non-condensing boilers with three types of domestic hot water (DHW) sub-systems (no integrated DHW, direct and with a storage tank). For all configurations, a variable production efficiency is considered dependent on the load ratio. The urban-scale simulation is carried out at a 10-minute frequency for the weather data assuming the location of Heverlee (Belgium) in the year 2016.The original purpose of this dataset was the development of statistical tools for the assessment of the heat loss coefficient of the building fabric. However, the generated artificial datasets provide a large spectre of usually difficult-to-measure inputs suitable to assess the importance of different components in the overall energy balance. Even though the original work looked into individual building behaviour, the datasets can be also used from an urban perspective for energy planning purposes.