Measurement of energy performance in a small bank building

Technical Report · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6886494· OSTI ID:6886494

Sharp, T R; MacDonald, J M

This report summarizes the measured results from a field study of the performance of a low-cost controls retrofit in a small bank building in Knoxville, Tennessee. The retrofit consisted of an upgrade of heating and cooling system controls and new operating strategies. The study was undertaken to better understand how commercial energy use measurement studies should be performed and to demonstrate the effectiveness of a low-cost controls retrofit in a small commercial building. This report describes the details of the project, including building and building system characteristics, the HVAC control changes implemented, energy end use patterns, and the heating and cooling energy savings achieved. An improved control strategy involving thermostat setback/setup and on/off control was devised around a single replacement programmable thermostat. The strategy allowed thermostat setback/setup control of the primary HVAC system in the building and provided on/off (time-of-day) control for the two secondary systems. The energy efficiency improvements provided a 33% reduction in heating and a 21% reduction in cooling energy consumptions. Simple payback for the retrofit, including installation cost, was less than 1 year. In addition to reducing the energy needs of the building, the replacement electronic thermostat provided improved interior comfort. 10 refs., 12 figs., 6 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/CE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6886494
• Report Number(s): ORNL/CON-297; ON: DE90011294
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320100* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Buildings
AIR CONDITIONERS
BOILERS
BUILDINGS
CALIBRATION
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONTROL
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
HEATING SYSTEMS
INVESTMENT
LIGHTING SYSTEMS
MEASURING METHODS
OPTIMIZATION
PERFORMANCE
POWER
RETROFITTING
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
THERMOSTATS