Analysis of Building Energy Consumption Under Climate Variability

The relationship between climate variability and building energy consumption is critical for understanding future energy demand. This study examines the impact of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on building energy patterns in South Korea, with a focus on seasonal cooling and heating demands. By integrating long-term ERA5 reanalysis data (1979–2023) into a building energy simulation framework, we identified significant trends driven by climatic oscillations.

When the PDO is in its negative phase, cooling energy demand in summer increases while heating energy demand in winter decreases, reflecting a shift in energy requirements due to regional climate anomalies. Conversely, the positive PDO phase results in reduced cooling demand and heightened heating demand, reversing these trends. These findings provide critical insights into the dynamic interplay between large-scale climate patterns and building energy consumption, highlighting the necessity of adaptive energy strategies to mitigate the effects of climate variability.

Our results underscore the importance of including regional climate variability, such as PDO and ENSO phases, in building energy analyses to enhance predictive accuracy and inform sustainable energy policy development. The implications of these insights extend to infrastructure planning, enabling more resilient and efficient energy systems amidst a changing climate.