Policy design for electricity efficiency: a case study of bottom-up energy modeling in the residential sector and buildings

Energy models play a crucial role in the domain of energy policy by serving as essential instruments for decision-making. However, a significant limitation of numerous bottom-up energy models (BUEMs) is their empirical design, which hinders their ability to effectively inform policy design. This study presents a structured framework that can be used to improve the effectiveness of behavior, understanding, and engagement measures in the development of BUEMs for enhancing energy end-use efficiency. The model selected for this case study was provided by the Mexican Commission for the Efficient Use of Energy (CONUEE), and it examines the impact of regulatory instruments on the residential sector and residential buildings. The benefits of the proposed framework were successfully demonstrated through a quantitative comparison of real energy models, using and without using the said framework, revealing the advantages of its use. The framework significantly decreases the time required for model generation in various aspects by 59.43%. The obtained results highlight the effectiveness of the framework, and it could enhance the existing knowledge in the sector.