Nationwide HVAC Energy-Saving Potential Quantification for Office Buildings with Occupant-Centric Controls in Various Climates

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2020 · Applied Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115727· OSTI ID:1671034

Pang, Zhihong ^[1]; Chen, Yan  ^[2]; Zhang, Jian ^[2]; O'Neil, Zheng ^[1]; Cheng, Hwakong ^[3]; Dong, Bing ^[4]

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1. University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa
2. BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)
3. Taylor Engineering
4. University of Texas at San Antonio

The occupant-centric control (OCC) is receiving an increasing attention due to its ability to reduce building heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system energy consumptions while not affecting the occupant thermal comfort. This paper aims to investigate and quantify the nationwide energy-saving potential of implementing the occupant-centric HVAC controls in typical office buildings using a whole building simulation software EnergyPlus. First, the medium office and large office from the Department of Energy (DOE) Commercial Prototype Building Models (CBPM) were enhanced to have detailed layouts and dynamic occupancy schedules. Then, a comprehensive simulation plan was created by incorporating the multiple zone-level and system-level occupant-centric building HVAC controls recommended by the updated ASHRAE Standard 90.1 – 2019 and ASHRAE Guideline 36 – 2018. Three control scenarios with different occupancy sensing methods were identified in this simulation plan. A nation-wide parametric analysis which includes two building types, three occupancy sensing scenarios, two building code versions, and 16 U.S. climate zones was carried out. The simulation results of the key control variables and HVAC energy consumption suggest that generally, both the occupancy presence sensor and occupant counting sensor could achieve energy savings for the office buildings in majority of the scenarios. However, compared with the occupancy presence sensor, which could support both the temperature setpoint reset and operational breathing zone airflow rate reset for the unoccupied zones, the occupant counting sensor only brings a marginal benefit. Besides, a higher HVAC energy-saving ratio could be achieved in the heating-dominated zone, since the energy reduction brought with the minimum outdoor airflow rate reset is stronger in the heating mode.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1671034
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-153595
• Journal Information: Applied Energy, Vol. 279
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English