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Office building energy use

Journal Article · · ASHRAE Trans.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5950004

Detailed measurement of energy consumption with a large number of identical situations in an office building shows large variations, with increasing variation as the elements being measured become smaller and as the increments of time become shorter. There do not appear to be any calculation methods or assumptions regarding use that will produce predictions of energy consumption that are close to measurements for individual floors or individual air-conditioning units, either monthly or annually in a large building. There does not appear to be any close relationship between the energy consumed by interior air-conditioning units and the quantity of heat produced by the electricity consuming items in the spaces served by those units. The energy consumed by building orientation does not appear to vary in accordance with the consumption predicted by accounting for solar heat gain. The energy consumed by tenants occupying an entire floor is higher than the energy consumed on multitenant floors. The influence that occupants have on energy use can dominate the influence of HVAC and lighting in identical spaces with identical loads. The peak electric demands in air conditioned buildings don't necessarily occur at the same time as the calculated or actual peak cooling loads.

Research Organization:
Wyncote, PA
OSTI ID:
5950004
Journal Information:
ASHRAE Trans.; (United States), Journal Name: ASHRAE Trans.; (United States) Vol. 24:11; ISSN ASHTA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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