How crucial are Personalised Environmental Control Systems (PECS) in newly constructed offices? A comfort-energy case study perspective

Roberto Rugani, Marco Picco, Giacomo Salvadori, Fabio Fantozzi

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

This study investigates the potential benefits of integrating Personalised Environmental Control Systems (PECS) in newly constructed office spaces, focusing on energy efficiency and thermal comfort. Two modern offices in Lucca and Massa, Italy, were analyzed through a combination of on-site data sampling and dynamic Building Energy Simulations (BES). Despite being equipped with contemporary HVAC systems, these offices often fall short of achieving optimal comfort and energy consumption levels, particularly under varying occupancy conditions. The findings demonstrate that PECS could significantly enhance energy efficiency by allowing for localized environmental control, especially in under-occupied offices. Implementing PECS in the studied offices could lead to energy savings of up to 85% in both winter and summer for Lucca, and up to 85% in winter and 42% in summer for Massa. The effectiveness of PECS is particularly evident in environments with extensive glass surfaces, such as the Massa office, where traditional HVAC systems struggle to maintain comfort without incurring high energy costs. Additionally, the study reveals that even when all occupants use PECS simultaneously, the impact on overall energy consumption remains minimal, preserving the efficiency gains. These findings highlight the importance of integrating PECS in modern office design as a forward-thinking approach to achieving personalized comfort and substantial energy savings.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2024
EventComfort at the extremes 2024 - University of Seville, Seville, Spain
Duration: 20 Nov 2024 → …
https://cate2024.org/

Conference

ConferenceComfort at the extremes 2024
Abbreviated titleCATE24
Country/TerritorySpain
CitySeville
Period20/11/24 → …
Internet address

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