An advanced data analysis method using heating degree-days for estimating the efficiency of buildings in smart cities: A case study of Astana
Omirgaliyev R. Khamzina A. Yedilkhan D. Friedrich D. Zhakiyev N.
December 2025Elsevier B.V.
Results in Engineering
2025#28
Heating of buildings account for over 40% of global energy consumption and approximately 30% of carbon dioxide emissions. In Kazakhstan, achieving optimal energy efficiency and thermal comfort in residential buildings is particularly challenging due to regions unique climatic conditions and a lack of detailed microclimate data. Study addresses these challenges by aiming to identify effective combinations of microclimate and personal thermoregulation parameters that would allow a one-degree reduction in heating temperature without sacrificing comfort. In paper novel method for assessing building energy efficiency using energy consumption bills and both internal and external air temperature data has been developed. This method utilizes Heating Degree-Days (HDD), which calculates daily temperature variances rather than monthly averages, providing a more accurate assessment of energy needs. Analysis of heating data from 355 houses indicated that buildings with poor insulation show an exponential increasing rate of heat losses on colder and windier days. In contrast, well-insulated buildings maintain a linear relationship between HDD and energy consumption. It was evident when normal temperature was decreased by 1°C the number of efficient buildings were increased from 273 to 284, while the number of inefficient and normal houses were decreased from 56 to 53 and from 26 to 18, respectively. Аindings enables municipalities to use heating bill data and daily weather data to remotely identify poorly insulated houses, necessitating physical inspections by energy auditors to confirm inefficiencies and implement necessary improvements. Moreover, a reduction of ΔT=1°C allowed to save around ∼$95,000 for residents of 355 houses in heating season.
Energy consumption , Heating efficiency , Heating standards , Kazakhstan , Method of heating degree-days (HDD)
Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи
School of Computer Engineering, Astana IT University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
School of Digital Public Administration, Astana IT University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Research and Innovation Center “Smart City”, Astana IT University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FB, United Kingdom
Department of Intellectual Systems, Astana IT University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge, 02138, United States
School of Computer Engineering
School of Digital Public Administration
Research and Innovation Center “Smart City”
School of Engineering
Department of Intellectual Systems
Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026