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Cooling energy savings and occupant feedback in a two year retrofit evaluation of 99 automated ceiling fans staged with air conditioning
Graphical abstract Display Omitted
Highlights Largest known field study of ceiling fans sequenced with air conditioning for cooling. Mean zone indoor temperature increased 1.9 °C in period after fan installation. 36% total measured cooling season compressor energy savings (from 2.8 to 1.8 W/m2). Mean ceiling fan power only 8 W, at speeds <60% maximum, fans ran 76% occupied hours. All interviewees felt fans provided adequate cooling; most preferred automated fans.
Abstract Controlled air movement is an effective strategy for maintaining occupant comfort while reducing energy consumption, since comfort at moderately warmer temperatures requires less space cooling. Modern ceiling fans provide a 2–4 °C cooling effect at power consumption comparable to LED lightbulbs (2–30 W) with gentle air speeds (0.5–1 m/s). However, very limited design guidance and performance data are available for using ceiling fans and air conditioning together, especially in commercial buildings. We present results from a 29-month field study of 99 automated ceiling fans and 12 thermostats installed in ten air-conditioned buildings in a hot/dry climate in California. Staging ceiling fans to automatically cool before, and then operate together with air conditioning enabled raising air conditioning cooling temperature setpoints in most zones, with overall positive occupant interview and survey responses. Overall measured cooling season (April– October) compressor energy savings were 36%, normalized by floor area served (41% during summer peak billing hours). Weather-normalized changes in zone energy use varied from 24% increase to 73% decrease across 13 compressors, reflecting variation in occupant schedules and other uncontrolled factors in occupied buildings. Median weather-normalized energy savings per compressor were 21%. Staging ceiling fans and air conditioning provided comfort across a wider temperature range, using less energy, than air conditioning alone.
Cooling energy savings and occupant feedback in a two year retrofit evaluation of 99 automated ceiling fans staged with air conditioning
Graphical abstract Display Omitted
Highlights Largest known field study of ceiling fans sequenced with air conditioning for cooling. Mean zone indoor temperature increased 1.9 °C in period after fan installation. 36% total measured cooling season compressor energy savings (from 2.8 to 1.8 W/m2). Mean ceiling fan power only 8 W, at speeds <60% maximum, fans ran 76% occupied hours. All interviewees felt fans provided adequate cooling; most preferred automated fans.
Abstract Controlled air movement is an effective strategy for maintaining occupant comfort while reducing energy consumption, since comfort at moderately warmer temperatures requires less space cooling. Modern ceiling fans provide a 2–4 °C cooling effect at power consumption comparable to LED lightbulbs (2–30 W) with gentle air speeds (0.5–1 m/s). However, very limited design guidance and performance data are available for using ceiling fans and air conditioning together, especially in commercial buildings. We present results from a 29-month field study of 99 automated ceiling fans and 12 thermostats installed in ten air-conditioned buildings in a hot/dry climate in California. Staging ceiling fans to automatically cool before, and then operate together with air conditioning enabled raising air conditioning cooling temperature setpoints in most zones, with overall positive occupant interview and survey responses. Overall measured cooling season (April– October) compressor energy savings were 36%, normalized by floor area served (41% during summer peak billing hours). Weather-normalized changes in zone energy use varied from 24% increase to 73% decrease across 13 compressors, reflecting variation in occupant schedules and other uncontrolled factors in occupied buildings. Median weather-normalized energy savings per compressor were 21%. Staging ceiling fans and air conditioning provided comfort across a wider temperature range, using less energy, than air conditioning alone.
Cooling energy savings and occupant feedback in a two year retrofit evaluation of 99 automated ceiling fans staged with air conditioning
Miller, Dana (author) / Raftery, Paul (author) / Nakajima, Mia (author) / Salo, Sonja (author) / Graham, Lindsay T. (author) / Peffer, Therese (author) / Delgado, Marta (author) / Zhang, Hui (author) / Brager, Gail (author) / Douglass-Jaimes, David (author)
Energy and Buildings ; 251
2021-07-28
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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