JAUE2017-088: Analysis of Changes in the Heat and Electricity Loads of Buildings Before and After the Great East Japan Earthquake

Abstract

The current authors previously investigated1), based on data from 2008, heat and electricity loads of
buildings needing a district heating and cooling system in order to update "units of heat and electricity loads"
used to initially design equipment for buildings and district heating and cooling plants.
The previous study examined buildings that were receiving heat from a district heating and cooling system.
The current study reexamined current energy loads for those buildings, with those loads representing actual
energy loads prior to the Great East Japan Earthquake. This study also identified potential factors for changes
in those loads.
Cooling loads for office buildings decreased by 13% annually, heating loads decreased by 2% annually,
electricity loads decreased by 17% annually. Several factors for these reduced loads were presumably
reconsideration of the temperature settings of air conditioners in common areas, a reduction in the amount of
outside air taken in, and use of fewer bulbs in lights.
If the changes noted in this study are typical of the future, then heating may account for a greater
proportion of heating planning than cooling. Heat loads may account for a greater proportion of cogeneration
planning than heat and electricity loads.