Adaptive Comfort Control Implemented Model (ACCIM) for Energy Consumption Predictions in Dwellings under Current and Future Climate Conditions: A Case Study Located in Spain

Abstract

Currently, the knowledge of energy consumption in buildings of new and existing dwellings is essential to control and propose energy conservation measures. Most of the predictions of energy consumption in buildings are based on fixed values related to the internal thermal ambient and pre-established operation hypotheses, which do not reflect the dynamic use of buildings and users’ requirements. Spain is a clear example of such a situation. This study suggests the use of an adaptive thermal comfort model as a predictive method of energy consumption in the internal thermal ambient, as well as several operation hypotheses, and both conditions are combined in a simulation model: the Adaptive Comfort Control Implemented Model (ACCIM). The behavior of ACCIM is studied in a representative case of the residential building stock, which is located in three climate zones with different characteristics (warm, cold, and mild climates). The analyses were conducted both in current and future scenarios with the aim of knowing the advantages and limitations in each climate zone. The results show that the average consumption of the current, 2050, and 2080 scenarios decreased between 23% and 46% in warm climates, between 19% and 25% in mild climates, and between 10% and 29% in cold climates by using such a predictive method. It is also shown that this method is more resilient to climate change than the current standard. This research can be a starting point to understand users’ climate adaptation to predict energy consumption.

Analysis of Energy Consumption in Different European Cities: The Adaptive Comfort Control Implemented Model (ACCIM) Considering Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) Scenarios

“…As for windows, a design with a thermal transmittance of 4.2 W/(m 2 K) and a constant solar heat gain coefficient of 0.6 was considered. With respect to the loads schedule, data similar to previous research studies was used [21,23,35] (Table 3). All internal loads vary depending on the day of the week (weekdays and weekends).…”

“…Energy consumption is the total energy consumption of the HVAC system over the period of 1 year to keep the operative temperature of a single apartment unit within the limits as per the static or the adaptive model (Table 1). Thermal comfort levels are assessed using the following categories: (i) Comfortable Hours, when the RMOT falls within the applicability limits of the adaptive comfort model and the operative temperature is also within the setpoint temperatures; (ii) Discomfortable Applicable Hot Hours, which are the hours in which the RMOT is within the applicability limits, but the operative temperature overcomes the CST; (iii) Discomfortable Applicable Cold Hours, which are the hours in which the RMOT is within the applicability limits, but the operative temperature is lower than the HST; (iv) Discomfortable Non-Applicable Hot Hours, which are the hours in which the With respect to the loads schedule, data similar to previous research studies was used [21,23,35] ( Table 3). All internal loads vary depending on the day of the week (weekdays and weekends).…”

“…Energy consumption was reduced by 20% and 80% in heating and cooling, respectively; (ii) Van der Linden et al [19] analyzed the energy saving achieved by the thermal comfort model from ISSO74 [20]. The use of the lower limit of such standard as the heating setpoint temperature achieved an energy saving of 74%; (iii) Sánchez-García et al [21] developed the Adaptive Comfort Control Implemented Model (ACCIM), which consists of a Building Energy Model (BEM) to which these adaptive setpoint temperatures are applied. Daily adaptive setpoint temperatures were used in a residential building located in the same cities on which the study by Sánchez-Guevara Sánchez et al was based [17], and energy savings between 10 and 46% were achieved according to the type of climate; (iv) Sánchez-García et al [22] observed that the application of the ACCIM, together with the use of the mixed-mode in an administrative building located in the south of Spain, achieved savings between 36.7 and 59.5% in the building energy consumption; (v) Sánchez-García et al [23] analyzed the energy savings achieved according to the three categories from the EN 15251:2007 standard [24].…”

Evaluating the potential of adaptive comfort approach using historic data to reduce energy consumption in buildings in southern Spain

“…These measures are mainly based on two aspects: (i) the use of natural ventilation during the hours in which the external temperature is within the application limits of EN 16798-1:2019 and (ii) the use of HVAC systems through adaptive setpoint temperatures when the indoor space cannot be naturally ventilated. If the t rm value is beyond the application limits of the standards (e. g. lower than 10 • C or greater than 30 • C in EN 16798-1:2019), a fixed value should be used for the adaptive setpoint temperatures, corresponding to the horizontal extension of the limit values of the adaptive model [38].…”

A Comparative Analysis of the International Regulation of Thermal Properties in Building Envelope

“…To achieve such a goal, countries are designing regulations that establish limitations in the properties of buildings to guarantee their appropriate energy performance. Among the characteristics of buildings, setpoint temperatures [11], compactness [12], bioclimatic strategies [13], efficient installations [14], and thermal properties of envelopes [15,16] are those most influencing the energy performance, as the main type of consumption is the use of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems [17]. It is therefore essential for countries to ensure an acceptable energy performance of buildings through their regulations, and they should pay special attention to the limitation of residential building energy consumption [18].…”