Building Codes and Demand Response of Energy Use

Abstract

Buildings are an essential part of the wider energy system. A significant share of electricity consumption occurs in buildings. Traditionally buildings have been places where electricity is consumed. Now they have a growing role also as a location where renewable energy production, such as solar power, occurs. <br/><br/>Demand response means the voluntary actions that are taken on the customer side as a response to something on the demand side. In practice, demand response can involve, for example, reducing the energy consumption during the peak times of the larger energy system or shifting the timing of the building’s energy consumption by synchronizing it with local renewable energy production’s profile inside the building. The building codes of Finland direct the designers’ energy-related solutions both in new construction and licenced renovations. <br/><br/>In this conceptual paper the literature related to demand response and regulation is reviewed, and it is discussed what kind of a role the building codes could have in advancing the buildings’ preconditions for demand response. Demand response is currently brought out in EU directives in the regulation with relation to network operators. However, preparedness for demand response could also be advanced by giving more attention to the timing of power use in the building codes.