Improving EER with Off-Peak Radiant Cooling

Residential buildings with high performance thermal enclosures and thermal mass have been demonstrated to have daily temperature swings of less than a few degrees. When such buildings are built on slab foundations with radiant floor distribution it is possible to utilize the mass to delay the delivery of cooling to times when lower outdoor temperatures result in higher energy efficiency ratios (EER's). This paper presents the results of more than a year of monitored performance of a hot climate house and calibrated simulations that demonstrate the energy savings potential as well as the capability to fully shift load to times when the cost of generating electricity is lowest, and identifies strategies for accommodating latent loads.