Evaluation of an urban area in cold climate with a new perspective: exergoeconomic analysis

Abstract

The exergoeconomic analysis of an urban area is introduced in this study, performed in an annual energy interaction basis. The investigated period covers the year of 2016, and indoor and outdoor temperatures, construction properties, and annual energy consumptions for heating purposes were all taken into account during the analysis. The selected urban area is the campus housings of Van Yuzuncu Yil University, which were constructed in 2012 after the Van earthquakes. Known as an important tool in understanding the cost structure of energy-intensive sectors, the exergoeconomic analysis was introduced as part of the planning concept in the study, and the analysis involves the results of 'exergetic cost' and 'exergy efficiency' analyses for the case area. Considering the urban nature of the study location, annual meteorological and domestic values were fully covered in the calculations. The results show that, despite being a well-designed and constructed urban area, certain specific design considerations were not met, and there is plenty of space for improvement in cost-reduction, particularly so for a location with such a cold climate.