Design Requirements and Hardware Specification for the Low-Cost, Interoperable, User-Centric, Supervisory Controller Kit for Small and Medium Size Commercial Buildings

Technical Report · Wed May 31 04:00:00 EDT 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/2440735· OSTI ID:2440735

Goodman, Carolyn D. ^[1]; Katipamula, Srinivas ^[1]; Lutes, Robert G. ^[1]; Huang, Sen ^[2]

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1. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
2. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Commercial buildings are responsible for approximately 20 percent of the total United States energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Over 85 percent of these buildings lack building automation systems to manage the various building systems they have. Many of these buildings are small (< 50,000 square feet), underserved, and use rooftop units (RTUs) for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning needs. Because these buildings lack proper control systems, they have several operational deficiencies that lead to excess energy consumption. Studies have shown that managing the RTU’s heating and cooling setpoints, schedules, setbacks, and optimal start times can result in 20 to 25 percent reduction in electricity consumption in small and medium commercial buildings (SMBs). In addition, improving the demand flexibility of these buildings will result in additional cost savings for the building owner.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Building Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 2440735
• Report Number(s): PNNL--34399
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING