Energy systems models for efficiency towards Smart Cities

Abstract

The way of energy use in the European Union (EU) needs to be improved by continuous promotion of sustainability and an efficient manner to ensure citizens' quality of life. This work presents two new energy models: i) retrofit of the present energy system in a public library building; ii) improving energy efficiency in public lighting using new technological solution Light Emission Diode (LED), new methods of control and management while leveraging the use of renewable energy as power supply. Both can act as a vehicle to disseminate concepts of Smart City (SC) and Internet of Things (IoT), also, as the development of energy production based on renewable energies: biomass and sunlight. With these two proposals it is intended to improve energy efficiency behaviours reducing energy waste, making use of the latest techniques and equipment, which promote more efficient management. This will lead to an effective reduction of energy consumption associated with public lighting while maintaining recommended levels of luminance in different situations. Finally this research is also to complete, a long-term goal of the EU, which is to develop a society that better uses their energy systems and, in Portugal, increase the use of available renewable energy sources.