Analysis of Energy Savings Potentials for Integrated Room Automation

The energy savings potential of selected low-cost measures related to the simultaneous control of blinds, electric lighting, heating, cooling and ventilation in a single building zone (Integrated Room Automation) was investigated. The analysis was based on a factorial study comprising several thousands, whole-year hourly time step simulations. The largest energy savings potential was found for the use of CO2-controlled ventilation as opposed to non-air quality controlled ventilation (average savings of 13%–28%, depending on the building zone characteristics and the choice of technical building system), followed by a widening of the thermal comfort range by ~1.5 oC (6%–16%), and the allowance for night/weekend room temperature set-back (0%–18%). Substantial energy savings potentials were also detected for advanced control: readily realizable energy savings thanks to improved non-predictive control amounted to 1%–15%, and theoretical savings potentials for predictive control to 16%–41%. The found, large case-to-case variability surrounding these average numbers underlines the importance of simulation-based assessments on a per case basis.