Improving the Accuracy of Archetype Building Stock Energy Models

Building stock energy models (BSEMs) are used world-wide for guiding policy makers and other stakeholders with respect to investments in energy-conservation measures in buildings? that can help reduce CO2-emissions. In order to make cost-optimal investments, these models should provide an accurate and detailed picture of the energy consumption in the building stock.
Building archetypes are frequently used in building stock energy modelling, in order to reduce the complexity of the building stock, and due to lack of detailed information on the entire building stock. However, using a simplified representation of the building stock could be associated with loss of accuracy and detail. This could in turn affect investment decisions negatively, if the energy-saving potential is not identified correctly.

The aim of this paper is to provide researchers and practitioners with an evidence base that can be used for estimating the uncertainty related to the use of archetypes in BSEMs. The accuracy of an archetype-based BSEM is assessed by comparing the calculated energy-use intensities (EUIs) of the archetype BSEM with the corresponding EUIs of each individual building. Using the same input data, assumptions and calculation method, all differences can be attributed to the use of building archetypes.