Energy consumption analysis and electricity pricing strategies of university dormitories in hot summer and warm winter region: A case from Guangzhou University, South China

Abstract

University dormitories, particularly in regions with hot summers and warm winters, exhibit high energy consumption density. It is crucial to understand the energy consumption characteristics and influencing factors of university dormitories before implementing energy efficiency measures and developing energy conservation policies. However, few studies based on historical data have been reported. This study aims to analyze the energy consumption characteristics of university dormitories and identify the influential factors based on historical electricity data from 2019 to 2022 at Guangzhou University, covering climate warming, social progress, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The energy consumption characteristics and the impact of factors, including floor level, orientation, students’ gender, and type of air conditioning, are investigated and quantified through a data-driven multiple linear regression model and statistical analysis. The results show that: 1) Orientation significantly affects energy consumption in university dormitories in hot summer and warm winter regions, with southeast-facing dormitories exhibiting the lowest per capita electricity consumption. 2) The correlation between dormitory floor and energy consumption was negative, contrasting with previous findings that higher floors in residential buildings have higher energy consumption. 3) Gender was found to be a significant factor influencing dormitory energy consumption, with male dormitories exhibiting significantly higher per capita electricity usage compared to female dormitories. The findings underscore the important role of orientation and gender in dormitory energy consumption and provide a basis for universities to develop targeted energy-saving measures.