| Description |
The aim of this research is to investigate the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the buildings sector in the Salt Lake Valley by altering the operational strategies of existing buildings. Air quality efforts typically focus on reducing emissions from transportation and industrial sources, but building energy usage is both an indirect contributor (via central power generation) and a direct contributor (via distributed energy sources or onsite boilers and furnaces). In the United States, the building sector is responsible for approximately 41% percent of the nation's total power consumption. Of this amount, approximately 70% is used for heating, cooling and lighting purposes. In Utah specifically, 97.7% of the total electric demand is met through the combustion of fossil fuels. Therefore, control strategies that reduce energy demand can be directly associated with fewer GHG emissions. For this research, a medium sized office building was simulated in EnergyPlus using TMY3 weather data for the Salt Lake Valley. Control strategies were implemented using MLE+, a MATLAB toolbox that connects EnergyPlus to a MATLAB script at each time step. The first strategy focuses on building temperature setpoints and commonly accepted thermal comfort standards. During warmer months, the building temperature and ventilation rates are increased. During the winter, heating is reduced, humidity is increased, and occupants are encouraged to dress warmly. The second strategy uses network flow diagrams and linear programming to optimize an automatic window shade. The shade will activate when either solar radiation or glare levels are too high. The automatic window shade balances heat transfer, glare, lighting and outside view to provide a comfortable experience for building occupants. The third strategy allows heating, cooling and lighting only in occupied building zones. Each of these strategies is applicable for an existing building, and its impact on total emissions is discussed. |
