scholarly journals Temperature Sensing Optimization for Home Thermostat Retrofit

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3685
Author(s):  
Federico Seri ◽  
Marco Arnesano ◽  
Marcus Martin Keane ◽  
Gian Marco Revel
Keyword(s):  
Energy Savings ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Payback Period ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Optimization Approach ◽  
Control Performance ◽  
Heating Performance ◽  
Smart Thermostat

Most existing residential buildings adopt one single-zone thermostat to control the heating of rooms with different thermal conditions. This solution often provides poor thermal comfort and inefficient use of energy. The current market proposes smart thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) as cheap and relatively easy-to-install retrofit solutions. These systems provide increased freedom of installation, due to the use of wireless communication; however, the uncertainty of the measured air temperature, considering the thermostat placement, could impact the final heating performance. This paper presents a sensing optimization approach for a home thermostat, in order to determine the optimal retrofit configuration to reduce the sensing uncertainty, thus achieving the required comfort level and minimizing the retrofit’s payback period. The methodology was applied to a real case study—a dwelling located in Italy. The measured data and a simulation model were used to create different retrofit scenarios. Among these, the optimal scenario was achieved through thermostat repositioning and a setpoint of 21 °C, without the use of TRVs. Such optimization provided an improvement of control performance due to sensor location, with consequent energy savings of 7% (compared to the baseline). The resulting payback period ranged from two and a half years to less than a year, depending on impact of the embedded smart thermostat algorithms.

scholarly journals Field Study Of A Radiant Heating System For Sleep Thermal Comfort And Potential Energy Saving

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher L. K. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Heating System ◽  
The Body ◽  
Radiant Temperature

As sleep is unconscious, the traditional definition of thermal comfort with conscious judgment does not apply. In this thesis sleep thermal comfort is defined as the thermal condition which enables sleep to most efficiently rejuvenate the body and mind. A comfort model was developed to stimulate the respective thermal environment required to achieve the desired body thermal conditions and a new infrared sphere method was developed to measure mean radiant temperature. Existing heating conditions according to building code conditions during sleeping hours was calculated to likely overheat a sleeping person and allowed energy saving potential by reducing nighttime heating set points. Experimenting with existing radiantly and forced air heated residential buildings, it was confirmed that thermal environment was too hot for comfortable sleep and that the infrared sphere method shows promise. With the site data, potential energy savings were calculated and around 10% of energy consumption reduction may be achieved during peak heating.

The Optimum Energy Saving Measures for Retrofitting Residential Buildings

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-92
Author(s):  
Rong-Yue Zheng ◽  
Jian Yao
Keyword(s):  
Energy Saving ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Cold Winter ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Optimum Energy ◽  
Potential Energy Saving ◽  
Selection Of

A large number of residential buildings in hot summer and cold winter zone of China are non-energy efficient with poor indoor thermal conditions. Retrofitting residential buildings with energy efficiency measures is thus important for residents. However, this work progressed slowly because practically applicable measures that not only have high energy savings but also improve indoor thermal performance have not been studied. Thus, this paper carried out a simulation study on the selection of suitable energy saving measures for residential buildings in hot summer and cold winter zone of China. Five potential energy saving options are considered and the energy, indoor thermal comfort and economic performance are compared. The results show that adding movable solar shades is the optimum option with all performance indices ranking first. Meanwhile, this measure is also the only acceptable energy saving solution for residents since its payback period is less than the lifespan of a building. As a conclusion, it is recommended to use movable solar shades as a first priority when retrofitting residential buildings.

Sustainability and cost assessment of coastal vacation homes for energy retrofits

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamalesh Panthi ◽  
Kanchan Das ◽  
Tarek Abdel-Salam
Keyword(s):  
Energy Use ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Energy Usage ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Modeling Software ◽  
Energy Use Intensity

Purpose Vacation rental homes, in general, have different energy usage characteristics than traditional residential homes mainly because of the occupancy pattern that changes on a weekly basis. These homes, predominantly larger in size, offer a greater scope for energy savings also because of the wasteful habits of their seasonal occupants. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the causes of energy inefficiencies prevalent in these homes so that appropriate retrofit choices can be offered to homeowners. Design/methodology/approach This research presents a case study of a vacation rental home whose energy consumption was investigated in depth and energy inefficiencies identified through modeling using energy modeling software, eQUEST. Simulations were performed to identify viable retrofit scenarios. Findings While improvement in the building envelope such as providing shades/overhangs on the windows, reducing infiltration and increasing insulation of the exterior wall did not show promising results for savings on energy cost, other improvements such as use of highly efficient lamps, tank-less water heater system and occupancy sensors showed viable investment options with shorter payback periods. It was also found that energy use intensity of sampled houses was about half of the average of US residential buildings, which could primarily be attributed to the seasonal nature of occupancy of these houses. Originality/value There is a dearth of literature pertaining to energy efficiency-related retrofits of coastal vacation homes. This research fills that gap to some extent by addressing this issue with an ultimate aim of assisting homeowners in retrofit decision-making.

scholarly journals EVALUATION OF ENERGY-EFFICIENT RETROFIT POTENTIAL FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN INDIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 03-17
Author(s):  
Gazal Dandia ◽  
◽  
Pratheek Sudhakaran ◽  
Chaitali Basu ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Total Energy ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Payback Period ◽  
Total Energy Consumption ◽  
The Cost

Introduction: High energy consumption by buildings is a great threat to the environment and one of the major causes of climate change. With a population of 1.4 billion people and one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, India is extremely vital for the future of global energy markets. The energy demand for construction activities continues to rise and it is responsible for over one-third of global final energy consumption. Currently, buildings in India account for 35% of total energy consumption and the value is growing by 8% annually. Around 11% of total energy consumption are attributed to the commercial sector. Energy-efficient retrofitting of the built environments created in recent decades is a pressing urban challenge. Presently, most energy-efficient retrofit projects focus mainly on the engineering aspects. In this paper, we evaluate various retrofitting options, such as passive architectural interventions, active technological interventions, or a combination of both, to create the optimum result for the selected building. Methods: Based on a literature study and case examples, we identified various energy-efficient retrofit measures, and then examined and evaluated those as applied to the case study of Awas Bhawan (Rajasthan Housing Board Headquarters), Jaipur, India. For the evaluation, we developed a simulation model using EQuest for each energy measure and calculated the resultant energy savings. Then, based on the cost of implementation and the cost of energy saved, we calculated the payback period. Finally, an optimum retrofit solution was formulated with account for the payback period and ease of installation. Results and discussion: The detailed analysis of various energy-efficient retrofit measures as applied to the case study indicates that the most feasible options for retrofit resulting in optimum energy savings with short payback periods include passive architecture measures and equipment upgrades.

scholarly journals Field Study Of A Radiant Heating System For Sleep Thermal Comfort And Potential Energy Saving

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher L. K. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Heating System ◽  
The Body ◽  
Radiant Temperature

As sleep is unconscious, the traditional definition of thermal comfort with conscious judgment does not apply. In this thesis sleep thermal comfort is defined as the thermal condition which enables sleep to most efficiently rejuvenate the body and mind. A comfort model was developed to stimulate the respective thermal environment required to achieve the desired body thermal conditions and a new infrared sphere method was developed to measure mean radiant temperature. Existing heating conditions according to building code conditions during sleeping hours was calculated to likely overheat a sleeping person and allowed energy saving potential by reducing nighttime heating set points. Experimenting with existing radiantly and forced air heated residential buildings, it was confirmed that thermal environment was too hot for comfortable sleep and that the infrared sphere method shows promise. With the site data, potential energy savings were calculated and around 10% of energy consumption reduction may be achieved during peak heating.

scholarly journals Willingness to Pay for Renovation of Multi-Flat Buildings and to Share the Costs of Renovation

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalia Streimikiene ◽  
Tomas Balezentis
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Housing Association ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Multiple Choice Questions

The paper deals with the problems linked to the energy renovation of multi-apartment buildings and developed a case study in Lithuania with the aim to assess the household’s willingness to pay for energy renovation and to define the main barriers preventing the households from making decisions to renovate their apartments in residential buildings. Energy renovation provides huge energy savings and greenhouse gas emissions reduction potential and though policies and measures exist to promote large scale energy renovation, there are still many barriers and the pace of energy renovation is still very slow, especially in new EU member states and former Soviet Union members. These countries have inherited old, energy inefficient residential buildings from their Soviet past, and their inhabitants are locked in energy poverty because of their inability to renovate their apartments. This paper analyzed the current situation in the selected country and presents the results of a case study on willingness to pay (WTP) for energy renovation in Lithuanian residential buildings. The survey of 104 Lithuanian households living in unrenovated multi-flat buildings was conducted. The 39 multiple choice questions were asked in order to define the main barriers and drivers of energy renovation. The main results of this pilot study indicated that there are several important organizational and economic barriers for energy renovation in multi-flat buildings and current policies and support schemes have not addressed them in a proper way. The high heating bills and low heat comfort in apartments were the main drivers of energy renovation decision-making for households, however, inadequate state support, reluctance to take a loan due to low income, and inability to make collective decisions on renovation due to the lack of cooperation and housing association were the main barriers that prevented them from this step. New innovative schemes like the Energy Service Companies ESCO model with consolidated billing can be applied to address the identified barriers.

scholarly journals Mejoras en el desempeño energético de edificios en verano mediante la integración de envolventes ventiladas en fachadas norte y cubiertas. El caso de Mendoza, Argentina

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-105
Author(s):  
Julieta Balter ◽  
Carolina Ganem ◽  
Gustavo Barea
Keyword(s):  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
High Solar Radiation ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Reduce Energy Consumption ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
The City

The proposal of energy efficiency measures in the residential sector in Argentina requires analyzing the architectonic possibilities of building rehabilitation using technologies that reduce energy consumption, that are feasible to implement locally. In regions with high solar radiation levels, as is the case of the city of Mendoza, heat fluxes transmitted inside can be reduced by the natural ventilation of the layers in the envelope, both on facades and roofs, thus obtaining significant savings in consumption for cooling purposes. This work evaluates the potential for improvement with the integration of ventilated envelopes. The work methodology is structured in two stages: i) survey of residential buildings by morphological typology and analysis of rehabilitation possibilities with ventilated facades, considering the exposed envelope surfaces by orientation; ii) simulation of a case study - previously validated with onsite measurements - using the EnergyPlus software. On integrating ventilated facades and roofs important energy savings of around 32% were achieved, considering the building without users (unoccupied). In the case of units on the top floor, with roofs exposed to the outside, energy savings of 260% were recorded.

scholarly journals Domestic hot water optimizing potential in existing or renovated multifamily residential buildings

2021 ◽  
Vol 2042 (1) ◽  
pp. 012144
Author(s):  
Flourentzos Flourentzou ◽  
Joshua Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Storage Temperature ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
Reduction Of Energy Consumption ◽  
Actual Energy Consumption

Abstract In a Swiss case study of the ReCO2st research project, hot water optimization demonstrated a high potential for energy savings with low investment costs. The optimization started with the end user to reduce first hot water consumption. Energy-efficient showerheads and faucets reduced hot water consumption by 10 to 25%, notably from 65.2 [l/p.day] to 48 [l/p.day] for the period of September to October 2019. A multi-criteria selection of showerheads involved end users considering other qualitative aspects like rinsing efficiency, overall feel of use, noise, and material robustness. Strict control of pipe and storing tank insulation reduced storage and distribution losses. Day and night storage temperature setpoints, water recirculation time, switching off this process after 11:00 p.m., temperature differential of start and stop loading setpoints, creating long loading cycles, ensure that the pipes are not always hot. Reducing Legionella cycles at 60° to once a day avoided the need for continuous high temperatures. The combination of all these soft measures in the Swiss case study resulted in a reduction of energy consumption for hot water of 20-30%. This is equivalent to the installation of expensive solar panels for hot water. A detailed two-year monitoring of the building's hot water consumption shows the contribution of each optimization measure. The encouraging results show that without perfect control of the entire process, it is impossible to avoid a performance gap between planned and actual energy consumption.

scholarly journals Potential energy savings and economic impact of residential buildings under national and regional efficiency scenarios. A Catalan case study

2012 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 119-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuria Garrido-Soriano ◽  
Martí Rosas-Casals ◽  
Aleksander Ivancic ◽  
Mª Dolores Álvarez-del Castillo
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Residential Buildings
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