On the use of user profiles by forecasting the heat used for heating

The forecasting of heat consumption is very important and relevant research topic, because the energy savings may be achieved in the new and also the existing buildings. This work shows the importance of taking into account the users' needs by forecasting the heat used for heating in buildings. The analyzed multifamily building has a traditional, central heating installation with vertical risers in each flat and convective radiators, which are supplied with the heating medium (80/60°C). The users' needs were included in the analyses using equivalent indoor air temperature. The field measurements were performed in order to calculate the mean absolute percentage errors between the real heat power and the forecast one, which for analyzed building was even equal to 14.2%.