Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts locates fossil heating systems
A team from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts has used machine learning to create models for municipalities, districts and the country that provide information about where how many oil and gas heating systems are installed. This should help inform households about alternatives before old fossil-fuel heating systems are replaced with new ones.
Experts from the Thermal Energy Storage Competence Center at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts(HSLU) want to promote the climate-friendly replacement of fossil-fuel heating systems. To this end, the team worked with geoimpact AG, based in Lüterkofen SO, to use machine learning to calculate models that locate fossil fuel heating systems.
This is because around 80 percent of oil and gas heating systems are currently being replaced by new fossil-fuel heating systems, according to a media release from the HSLU. “A new heating system needs planning,” HSLU energy expert Esther Lindner is quoted as saying. “Of course, if the old one breaks in the winter, you don’t have time for that, and then you just quickly replace what you had before with the same system again.” To counteract this, the project aims to provide these households with timely information about alternatives and counseling services.
First, a model was created for 1957 municipalities, then one for 158 districts, and finally another for all of Switzerland. At the community level, the model is reported to be the most accurate, with close to 80 percent accuracy. The artificial intelligence of these models was trained with publicly available data from the building and housing register.
Now the model is being developed into a referral program for a Sweet Edge project supported by the Federal Office of Energy. This is intended to assist communities with energy planning. “Communities that want to use the model and develop it at the same time,” Lindner said, “are welcome.” The project will also be presented at this year’s Evening of Business of the Department of Engineering & Architecture. It will take place on October 20, 2022.