Miscellaneous Electric Loads: Characterization and Energy Savings Potential

Journal Article · Tue Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2021 · Energy and Buildings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.110892· OSTI ID:1788024

Butzbaugh, Joshua B. ^[1]; Hosbach, Robert ^[2]; Meier, Alan ^[3]

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1. BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)
2. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
3. LBNL

Over time, miscellaneous electric loads (MELs) are expected to increase both in magnitude and share of residential and commercial building energy consumption. This trend is most apparent in North America, but it is also occurring in Japan and Europe. However, the contribution of MELs to building energy use is not currently well understood, both because the products in this category are transforming rapidly and the definition and classification of MELs is ambiguous. This study estimated the national energy consumption of 36 MELs using best-available data and found them to comprise 12% of delivered electricity to the U.S. residential and commercial building sectors. If 26 of these MELs were replaced with the most energy-efficient product models available on the market, their energy consumption could be halved to 6% of delivered electricity. National energy models will better account for building energy consumption by incorporating the MELs data collected and analyzed for this study, leading to improved policy decisions.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1788024
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-147496
• Journal Information: Energy and Buildings, Journal Name: Energy and Buildings Vol. 241
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Miscellaneous electric loads
Plug loads
Taxonomy
Energy efficiency
National Energy Consumption