Investigating Optimum Cooling Set Point Temperature and Air Velocity for Thermal Comfort and Energy Conservation in Mixed-Mode Buildings in India

Sriraj Gokarakonda, Christoph van Treeck and Rajan Rawal
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Sriraj Gokarakonda: Energy, Transport and Climate Policy Division, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany
Christoph van Treeck: E3D—Institute of Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Building, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Rajan Rawal: Centre for Advanced Research in Building Science and Energy (CARBSE), CEPT University, Ahmedabad 380009, India

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-27

Abstract: In warm and hot climates, ceiling fans and/or air conditioners (ACs) are used to maintain thermal comfort. Ceiling fans provide air movement near the skin, which enhances the evaporation of sweat, reduces heat stress, and enhances thermal comfort. This is also called the cooling effect. However, AC usage behaviour and the effects of elevated air speed through the use of ceiling fans on indoor operative temperature during AC usage are not widely studied. This study investigated the optimum AC (cooling) set point temperature and air velocity necessary for maintaining thermal comfort while achieving energy conservation, in mixed-mode buildings in India, through field studies by using used custom-built Internet of Things (IOT) devices. In the current study, the results indicate a 79% probability that comfort conditions can be maintained by achieving a temperature drop of 3K. If this drop can be achieved, as much as possible, through passive measures, the duration of AC operation and its energy consumption are reduced, at least by 67.5 and 58.4%, respectively. During the air-conditioned period, there is a possibility that the cooing effect is reduced because of increase in operative temperature due to ceiling fan operation. Therefore, the optimum solution is to maintain the highest AC set point and minimum fan speed setting that are acceptable.

Keywords: elevated air speed; thermal comfort; mixed-mode buildings; set point temperature; energy consumption in buildings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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