Automate user behavior to reduce energy demand and improve indoor air quality of residential buildings

Abstract

In 2013, national agreements have been made to stimulate a healthy and sustainable growth of the Dutch society and economy. These agreements include that, on average, all buildings need a label A by 2030. However, the calculated energy savings for all energy labels do not correspond with the actual energy savings, which is partly due to user behavior. The occupants, not buildings, are the primary energy consumers because they behave proactively and to perform energy related tasks in order to seek comfortable personal conditions. The general aim of this research is to advance the knowledge base on ways of saving energy and increase indoor air quality by addressing user behavior characteristic with an automated building product. This study could offer alternative options for energy saving methods and thereby contribute to the current efforts in sustainable design research. By providing knowledge on thermal loss due to user behavior, occupants can implement such strategies to create more comfort while reducing their energy consumption.

This concept focuses on reducing the thermal loss due to the increase of the air change rate resulting from window operation. The additional energy consumption due to window operation during heating season can be significant, but is difficult to quantify. Ventilation and window opening characteristics become more important due to renovation trends favoring air tight buildings. These high performing and air tight buildings can lead to an indoor accumulation of air pollutants and high humidity’s, which can cause multiple health symptoms. A combination of calculations, simulations and prototype testing is used to determine a way of automating window operations in an ideal way. The final prototype is installed in the PDlab where it was used for testing its cooling and air cleaning potentials.