ME 4343 HVAC Design The Impact of Occupancy Behavior Patterns
On the Energy Consumption in Low-income Residential Buildings Bing
Dong 1, Yifei Duan 1, Rui Liu 2, Taeg Nishimoto 2 1 Building
Performance and Diagnostics Group, Mechanical Engineering, the
University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, USA 2 College of
Architecture, the University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, USA
Slide 2
Introduction Large gaps between measured performance and
simulated results Source: NBI report 2008 Energy Performance of
LEED For New Construction Buildings
Slide 3
Introduction Occupancy behavior (OB) has significant influence
on building energy use
Slide 4
Introduction People spend most of time at homes Based on
American time user survey data (ATUS)
Slide 5
Introduction Occupancy behavior is a key factor influencing
building energy consumption and indoor environment Climate
Condition Building Envelope Building Systems Building Occupancy
Behavior Occupancy Presence Occupancy Activities Occupancy
Operation Energy Consumption
Slide 6
UTSA Occupancy Test-beds Three+1 project for Westside low
income houses A collaborative project of UTSA the San Antonio
Alternative Housing Corporation, and the Texas Department of
Housing and Community Affairs Honorable Mention for Research and
Education in Residential Construction, presented by City of San
Antonio Green Building Awards, 2013
Slide 7
Introduction SIPs House 1,073sf AAC House 1,019sf Container
House 1,106sf Stick House 1,000sf
Slide 8
Instrumentation Powerhouse Dynamics e-Monitor Temperature
Sensor Nonintrusive Sensor Network
Slide 9
Energy Consumption Total Monthly Energy Consumption # of
Occupants at homes 22443 Stick
Slide 10
Behavior 1: Thermostat Schedule All four houses thermostat
schedule August 12 to August 19, 2013 DOE Benchmark
Slide 11
Behavior 1: Thermostat Schedule HVAC working status for 1 week
On SIP house AAC house Off
Slide 12
Behavior 1: Thermostat Schedule Energy Consumption of HVAC for
1 week(12/8-19/8) Energy Consumption (kWh)
Slide 13
Behavior 2: Usage of Major Appliances Energy Consumption of
Stick House for 5 months Building Energy Data Book (2009) Cooling
and Heating 45%
Slide 14
Behavior 2: Usage of Major Appliances (Water Heater) Energy
Consumption of Water Heater for 1 week(12/8-19/8) Energy
Consumption (kWh)
Slide 15
Behavior 2: Usage of Major Appliances (Water Heater)
SIPStickATUS
Slide 16
Behavior 3: Occupancy Movement Occupancy movement in SIP house
Temperature Profiles of living room and master bedroom of SIP house
Living Room
Slide 17
Behavior 3: Occupancy Movement Living Room in SIP house
(aggregated one week data) High Probability
Slide 18
Behavior 3: Occupancy Movement Kitchen in SIP house (aggregated
one week data)
Slide 19
Integrate with Energy Models Occupancy Movement Patterns New
Thermostat Schedule Building Controls Virtual Test bed (LBNL)
Measured Energy and Temperature Data Energy Saving: 15% Comfort
time Increase: 25% Appliances
Slide 20
Conclusion and Future Work In this study, we present occupancy
behavior and energy usage patterns in four low income houses We
also demonstrate possible energy savings based on occupancy
movement In future studies, we will: Develop statistical models to
describe occupancy behavior in buildings. Integrate with energy
consumption patterns
Slide 21
IEA Annex 66 IEA Annex 66 Definition and Simulation of Occupant
Behavior in Buildings. 23 countries and regions UTSA BPD group is
task leader of subtask 1.