Optimized Control of Automatic Windows for Energy Savings and Occupant Comfort2

In the context of optimizing controls for high-performance buildings to achieve energy savings while maintaining or improving occupant comfort, this study is aimed at finding incremental improvements in the existing control logic for an existing building. Through the use of parametric studies with a building energy simulation model that incorporates a stochastic model of occupant window use and automatic window control logic commensurate with the physical building, the performance of different natural ventilation control strategies is evaluated. Due to the inclusion of stochastic occupant behavior in the building model, results of simulations are presented as a distribution of potential outcomes, rather than a scalar value; however, the average of these distributions is used for simpler comparison between control strategies. The results show that annual HVAC electricity consumption can be reduced by 3% to 15%, depending upon the controls changes implemented.