Co-optimisation of indoor environmental quality and energy consumption within urban office buildings

Abstract

15This study aimed to develop a multi-component model that can be used to maximise indoor 16 environmental quality inside mechanically ventilated office buildings, while minimising 17 energy usage. The integrated model, which was developed and validated from fieldwork data, 18 was employed to assess the potential improvement of indoor air quality and energy saving 19 under different ventilation conditions in typical air-conditioned office buildings in the 20 subtropical city of Brisbane, Australia. When operating the ventilation system under predicted 21 optimal conditions of indoor environmental quality and energy conservation and using 22 outdoor air filtration, average indoor particle number (PN) concentration decreased by as 23 much as 77%, while indoor CO 2 concentration and energy consumption were not significantly 24 different compared to the normal summer time operating conditions. Benefits of operating the 25 system with this algorithm were most pronounced during the Brisbane's mild winter. In terms 26of indoor air quality, average indoor PN and CO 2 concentrations decreased by 48% and 24%, 27 respectively, while potential energy savings due to free cooling went as high as 108% of the 28 1 Corresponding author: International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia. Tel.: +61 7 3138 2616; Fax: +61 7 3138 9079. E-mail address: l.morawska@qut.edu.au (L. Morawska). Page 2 of 34A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 2 normal winter time operating conditions. The application of such a model to the operation of 29 ventilation systems can help to significantly improve indoor air quality and energy 30 conservation in air-conditioned office buildings. 31Keywords: particle number, CO 2 , temperature, outdoor air flow rate, multi-component model, 32optimum. 33

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