Influence of the type of thermostat on the energy saving obtained with adaptive setpoint temperatures: Analysis in the current and future scenario

Building energy performance should be improved to reduce the impact of climate change. The energy saving potential has been recently proved with adaptive setpoint temperatures. However, the accuracy of thermostats hinders the achievement of the energy saving obtained in previous studies. For this reason, this paper studies the influence of three types of thermostats according to their configuration accuracy: 0.1, 0.5, and 1 degrees C. Two case studies (with and without retrofitting) were analysed in three cities in the current scenario, in 2050, and in 2100. The results showed that the implementation of adaptive set point temperatures in thermostats of 0.1 degrees C virtually obtains the same savings as the direct application of thermal comfort limits. Nevertheless, obtaining considerable energy savings in the other two thermostats depends on the type of energy consumption, climate, and the category of the thermal comfort model. The application of adaptive setpoint temperatures in air conditioning systems obtains energy savings greater than 40%, regardless of the type of thermostat and category, whereas in heating systems, only the category III obtains energy savings with old thermostats. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Improving building energy performance is crucial for reducing the impact of climate change. Adaptive setpoint temperatures have proven energy-saving potential, but thermostat accuracy can affect the achieved energy savings. The application of adaptive setpoint temperatures in air conditioning systems can achieve significant energy savings, while in heating systems, the energy-saving effectiveness varies depending on the type of thermostat and thermal comfort model category.