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Current indoor thermal environment is usually automatically controlled based on a temperature set-point given by room occupants or building managers. However, investigation shows that many temperature set-points are far from the comfortable temperature range recommended by design handbooks. Such unreasonable temperature set-points will result in not only uncomfortable indoor thermal environment, but also waste of cooling or heating energy. The authors have proposed a methodology of satisfaction based control to take place of the traditional set-point based control. This paper describes the experimental comparison results between satisfaction based indoor thermal environment control and set-point based control. Two test-beds were set up and a series of experiments was conducted to compare control performances, user acceptances, user work performances and system energy consumptions of the set-point based and satisfaction based control. The comparison results show that the satisfaction based control can achieve more stable thermal environment. Both of the two control methods can get relatively high scores regarding user acceptance and work performance. There are no statistically significant differences for user acceptance and work performance between two control methods. However, satisfaction based control consumed 15.3% and 11.9% less energy at two test-beds respectively than set-point based control due to more reasonable temperature settings given by the satisfaction based control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a detailed meta-analysis of end and primary energy use for heating, cooling and ventilation of 11 low-energy non-residential buildings and one residential building in Germany that belong to the EnOB research program launched by the German Federal Ministry for Economy. In particular, the analysis emphasizes the substantial impact of auxiliary energy use on the efficiency of heating and cooling performance. The investigated buildings employ environmental energy sources and sinks – such as the ground, ground water, rainwater and the ambient air – in combination with thermo-active building systems. These concepts are promising approaches for slashing the primary energy use of buildings without violating occupant thermal comfort. A limited primary energy use of about 100kWhprim/(m2 neta) as a target for the complete building service technology (HVAC and lighting) was postulated for all buildings presented. With respect to this premise, a comprehensive long-term monitoring in high time resolution was carried out over the course of two to five years, with an accompanying commissioning of the building performance. Measurements include the energy use for heating, cooling, and ventilation, as well as the auxiliary equipment, the performance of the environmental heat source and sink, and local climatic site conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper reports on an analytical investigation into the energy saving potential associated with modified comfort limits in transitional spaces in buildings. Such spaces may not require the same high level and close environmental control of more fully occupied spaces and thus a wider variation in conditions and interpretation of thermal comfort may be permitted. Estimations are made of energy saving potential based upon typical floor area proportions utilised for transition spaces of various types in office/commercial buildings. The data are combined with suggested norms for comfort expectation that have wider temperature limits than for normally occupied office zones. The method has been applied to a series of building types situated in the climate of the East Pennines area of the UK using a thermal analysis tool. The results show that useful energy savings (particularly for heating) are possible by allowing for a modest (and realistic) relaxation of prescribed comfort standards in transition spaces. Further work is now required to confirm the limits and assess energy saving in practice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]