1. Story Outline
1.1 Explore Energy Usage
Analysis of Energy Consumption Trends by Building
- Charles Shipman Payson Building identified as the main contributor to energy usage.
- Notable downward trend in energy consumption since 2020 for the Charles Shipman Payson
Building.
Types of Energy Contributing to Usage Decrease
- Electric grid and fuel oil showed a decline in 2021 and 2022 compared to 2020.
- Natural gas usage increased in 2021 but decreased in 2022 compared to 2020.
1.2 Explore Overall Energy Usage Cost
Comparison of Overall Costs with Energy Consumption Trend
- Despite reduced energy usage since 2020, overall costs increased in 2021 and 2022.
Identifying Energy Types Responsible for Cost Increase
- Electric type: Decrease in 2021, but a significant increase in 2022.
- Natural gas: Continuous cost increase in both 2021 and 2022.
- Fuel oil: Similar trend of rising costs over the past two years.
1.3 Reasons for Decline in Energy Usage vs. Increase in Costs
Key Factor: The increase in unit cost attributed to
inflation.
2. Story
2.1 Explore Energy Usage
Analyzing energy consumption trends grouped by building reveals that the Charles Shipman
Payson Building is the dominant contributor to energy usage. Regarding the Charles Shipman
Payson Building, it's noteworthy that a downward trend has been evident since 2020.
Since Charles Shipman Payson Building is the predominant building in usage, my next focus
will be on understanding the types of energy contributing to the overall decrease in usage.
The graph below illustrates that both the electric grid and fuel oil experienced a decline
in 2021 and 2022 relative to 2020. Conversely, natural gas usage saw an increase in 2021
compared to 2020, but it also showed a decrease in 2022 when compared to 2020.
2.2 Explore Overall Energy Usage Cost
My next inquiry is whether the overall costs have decreased in comparison to 2020, similar to
the trend observed in energy consumption. The answer, however, is negative. Despite a
reduction in overall energy usage since 2020, the total costs actually increased in both
2021 and 2022 compared to 2020.
My next question is: which type of energy usage is responsible for this rise in costs?
Examining the electric type, we observe a decrease in 2021, followed by a significant
increase in 2022 relative to 2020. In the case of natural gas, the costs increased in both
2021 and 2022 compared to 2020. This trend of rising costs over the past two years is also
evident in the fuel oil type.
2.3 Why has energy usage declined while the overall energy costs have risen compared to
2020?
The answer lies in the unit cost - it's due to inflation?!
3. Future Work
3.1 Explore Weather Info
3.2 Correlation Analysis ==> Env vs Usage
For buildings using electricity from the grid, there is a consistent positive correlation
between air temperature and electricity consumption. As the air temperature rises, so does
the electricity usage. This trend is particularly noticeable in the case of 142 Free Street,
where the correlation coefficient is 0.54. In contrast, buildings using natural gas exhibit
a negative correlation between air temperature and energy consumption. A notable example is
the Portland Museum of Art, which shows a correlation coefficient of -0.4, indicating that
higher temperatures lead to lower natural gas consumption.