HVAC energy savings, thermal comfort and air quality for occupant-centric control through a side-by-side experimental study

Building sensing technologies have evolved rapidly in the last two decades in aid of monitoring building envi-ronment and energy system performance. A series of occupancy sensing systems were developed to track the occupant behavior in the indoor space. Occupancy-based building system control is defined as a control method that adjusts the building system operation schedules and setpoints based on the measured occupant behavior and has been identified as a smart building control strategy that can improve building energy efficiency as well as occupant comfort. Some studies demonstrated energy-saving potential and comfort-maintaining capability from occupancy-based control. This study adopted a first-of-its-kind side-by-side experimental approach to quantify the performance of the occupancy-based control in commercial buildings. Three state-of-the-art occupancy sensing technologies were integrated into the real-time Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system control in this study. Their detection accuracy and its effectiveness on energy-saving and thermal comfort were analyzed. It was found that the occupancy-based control can maintain good thermal comfort and perceived indoor air quality with a satisfaction ratio greater than 80%. Although the daily energy-saving varied with oc-cupancy sensor accuracy and outdoor environment conditions, the weekly averaged energy saving was between 17 and 24%.

Automated summary

Sensing technologies in buildings have advanced rapidly in the past two decades, with occupancy sensing systems being developed to track occupant behavior. Occupancy-based building system control can improve energy efficiency and occupant comfort, with studies showing potential energy savings and comfort maintenance. A study integrating three state-of-the-art occupancy sensing technologies into HVAC system control found that occupancy-based control can maintain good thermal comfort and indoor air quality satisfaction, with weekly energy savings averaging between 17% and 24%.