ICT intelligent support solutions toward the reduction of heating demand in cold and mild European climate conditions

Abstract

Adopting intelligent solutions in residential buildings for reducing the HVAC energy demand, especially during the operational stages, is becoming more popular. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) devices are often the backbone of such intelligent solutions, since they can enable an easy and intuitive bidirectional communication between energy systems and users and, at the same time, are able to suggest energy saving procedures. These energy saving procedures are mainly suggested when energy hungry behaviors are registered. Particularly, authors of this paper have assumed setting indoor set point temperatures, adjusting ventilation airflow rates and opening windows as energy hungry behaviors to tackle by means of ICT-driven intelligent solutions. Two different localities, namely Helsinki and Milan, have been considered as representative of cold and mild European climate conditions. Results report that adopting ICT-driven intelligent solutions for setting heating setback and indoor set point temperatures and for controlling the mechanical ventilation according to actual people's presence and CO 2 levels ensures consistent reductions of energy demand, especially in Helsinki, where mechanical ventilation is adopted. Moreover, if mechanical ventilation does not work properly or is missing, benefits in reducing energy demand can be even achieved by adopting ICT-driven intelligent solutions for advising building users when windows should be opened or closed according to sensed CO 2 levels. This is relevant especially in Milan. The adoption of intelligent HVAC-window controls, which enable to turn off the HVAC when windows are opened, does not ensure a significant effect in Helsinki. Instead, this solution is promising in Milan, especially when heating systems with low thermal masses are installed.

Coupling and Quantifying Sustainability and Resilience in Intelligent Buildings

“…Cost savings due to implementing smart technologies [6] and [34][35][36][37][38][39] Cost savings due to implementing sustainable approaches [34][35][36][37][38][39] Cost savings due to implementing smart and resilient technologies [30] and [40][41][42][43] Cost savings due to implementing smart technologies and sustainable approaches and maintaining their resilience [6,44] Based on the studies found in Table 1, it can be concluded that most smart buildings are designed to be sustainable. In other words, integrating smart technologies into any building is usually aimed at making the building more convenient, highly efficient, comfortable, and even environmentally friendly.…”

Upgrading the Smartness of Retrofitting Packages towards Energy-Efficient Residential Buildings in Cold Climate Countries: Two Case Studies

“…However, only a few studies have assessed the impact of BACS on the energy consumption using detailed building performance simulation models. Reda et al [7] investigated the effect of ICT-driven intelligent solutions for heating and ventilation control in an apartment building through energy simulations in IDA-ICE. They concluded that the energy demand was significantly reduced in buildings with mechanical ventilation, especially in a cold climate.…”

Effect of HVAC’s Management on Indoor Thermo-Hygrometric Comfort and Energy Balance: In Situ Assessments on a Real nZEB

“…As shown by Guillén et al [12], the heating energy saving that can be achieved by moving the set temperature from 20 • C to 19 • C is between 30% and 46% for a nZEB and between 13% and 23% for a traditional dwelling. Reda et al [13] have found that the adoption of information and communication technologies for setting heating setback and indoor setpoint temperatures and for controlling mechanical ventilation can ensure consistent reductions of energy demand.…”