Energy signature

In mechanical engineering, energy signatures (also called change-point regression models) relate energy demand of buildings to climatic variables, typically ambient temperature.^[1] Also other climatic variables such as heating or cooling degree days are used.^[2] In most cases, heating or cooling building energy demand is analysed through energy signatures, but also hot water or electricity demand is considered.

Example of an energy signature showing a linear relationship between daily cooling and heating demand with average daily ambient temperature.

Energy signatures make a simplified assumption of a linear relationship between a building's energy demand and temperature.^[3] This assumption allows for balancing accuracy with computation time, as the estimation of energy demand through energy signatures is considerably faster than using building performance simulation software. A crucial advantage of applying energy signatures is that no detailed information on the geometrical, construction, and operational characteristics of buildings needs to be available.