Sensitivity analysis of sensor placement in energy-efficient, grid-interactive ready small office buildings with dynamic shading and lighting control

Abstract

In smart buildings, dynamically controlled lighting and shading devices have a direct impact on occupants’ thermal and visual comfort, building energy use, and peak demand. This study aims to assess the impacts of adjusting vertical and work plane illuminance sensor location and rotation for different zone orientations across different climate zones, on illuminance levels, glare, energy consumption, and demand. Using the sensor locations of 1.6 m and facing the window (typical assumption), when implementing the integrated shading and lighting controls, the lighting and cooling energy savings range from 41% to 71% across both heating and cooling-dominated climate zones. The greatest cooling peak use demand reduction of 6.5 kW (23%) is achieved in Climate Zone 2 A, where the total cooling and lighting demand savings are 28-33% (9-10 kW). The percent change in lighting energy use is greater as compared to the percent change in cooling energy use when sensor location is varied, however, the total kWh and kW change is greater for cooling in most climate zones. Results suggest that adjusting the sensor distance from the window has a greater impact on illuminance levels, glare, and lighting and cooling energy use in all climate zones as compared to sensor rotation.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the Department of Energy (DOE) support under grant # DE-EE0009083 and the National Science Foundation (NSF) under grant # 2013093. Any findings, opinions, conclusions, and recommendations written are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the DOE or NSF.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).