C22 -- Occupant-Centric Comfort: A Methodological Breakthrough for Enhanced Energy Savings

This paper presents a novel methodology for enhancing building energy efficiency, emphasizing the importance of occupant comfort over conventional setpoint temperatures. It argues that a comfort-driven approach, which considers the interplay of occupant activities, external climate, and personalized comfort ranges, could lead to significant energy reductions.

In many buildings, climate control systems maintain static setpoint temperatures, neglecting dynamic comfort requirements. This study proposes a paradigm shift towards prioritizing occupant well-being through personalized comfort ranges. The aim is to explore the impact of this shift on energy consumption.

The methodology integrates dynamic energy modeling techniques with artificial intelligence algorithms to simulate various climatic zones as defined by ASHRAE. Instead of adhering to preset setpoint temperatures, the models dynamically change the indoor setpoint to target thermal comfort neutrality, thereby exploring the energy implications of this approach.

The practical application of this methodology will be carried out in a subsequent phase, following the data acquisition period from November 2023 to April 2024, using the Arup’s offices in Madrid as a case study. The results of this application will be presented in a second paper, focusing on the real-world implications of the developed methodology.