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Talks and Poster Presentations (with Proceedings-Entry):

P.J. Sölkner, A. Mahdavi:
"Rebound effects in heating energy demand after thermal refurbishment of apartment buildings";
Talk: CESBP - 2nd Central European Symposium on Building Physics, Wien, Österreich; 2013-09-09 - 2013-09-11; in: "Proceedings of the 2nd Central European Symposium on Building Physics 9-11 September 2013, Vienna, Austria", A. Mahdavi, B. Martens (ed.); ÖKK-Editions, 1 (2013), ISBN: 978-3-85437-321-6; 685 - 692.



English abstract:
Buildings are responsible for about 40 % of energy consumption and 36 % of CO2 emissions in the European Union, and therefore, are one focus of energy policies. High potential for energy savings exists
in the building sector, depending on the type of the building, the quality of the thermal refurbishment, and the building use. However, actual savings in energy consumption often do not achieve the pre-calculated savings after implementation of efficiency schemes. This phenomenon is the so called rebound effect which arises
from various causes. Based on a literature study, the rebound effects of 27 examples of thermal building refurbishments in Belgium, Germany and Austria were calculated and their reasons analysed.
The results show rebound effects between -25 % and +61 %. Both, under- and over-consumption in relation to the pre-calculated value of heating energy demand were detected. Reasons for rebound effects are very complex and hard to differentiate from each other. The results of the study show the main factors for rebound
effects that are detected by the researchers during their work on specific projects. High potential for direct rebound
effects were detected at complex HVAC systems. On the other hand, user behaviour has strong impact on heating energy demand. In this survey, several causes for rebound effects are discussed as well as approaches for minimising them.

German abstract:
none - see englisch version.