Performance Evaluation of an Occupancy-Based HVAC Control System in an Office Building

Guanjing Lin (), Armando Casillas, Maggie Sheng and Jessica Granderson
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Guanjing Lin: Building Technology and Urban Systems Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Armando Casillas: Building Technology and Urban Systems Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Maggie Sheng: Building Technology and Urban Systems Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Jessica Granderson: Building Technology and Urban Systems Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-21

Abstract: As new algorithms incorporate occupancy count information into more sophisticated HVAC control, these technologies offer great potential for reductions in energy costs while enhancing flexibility. This study presents results from a two-year field evaluation of an occupancy-based HVAC control system installed in an office building. Two wings on each of the building’s 2–11 floors were equipped with occupancy counters to learn occupancy patterns. In combination with proprietary machine learning algorithms and thermal modeling, the occupancy data were leveraged to implement optimized start, early closure, and adjustments to fan operation at the air handling unit (AHU) level. This study conducted a holistic evaluation of technical performance, cost-effectiveness analysis, and user satisfaction. Results show the platform reduced weekday AHU run times by 2 h and 35 min per AHU per day during the pandemic time period. Simulation shows that 6.1% annual whole-building savings can be achieved when the building is fully occupied. The results are compared with prior studies, and potential drivers are discussed for future opportunities. The assessment results shed light on the expected in-the-field performance for researchers and industry stakeholders and enabled practical considerations as the technology strives to move beyond research-grade pilot trials into product-grade deployment.

Keywords: HVAC control; occupancy prediction; field evaluation; smart building (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: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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