D.L. DiBartolomeo

Thermal and daylighting performance of an automated venetian blind and lighting system in a full-scale private office

Abstract Dynamic envelope/lighting systems have the potential to optimize the perimeter zone energy balance between daylight admission and solar heat gain rejection on a real-time basis, and to increase occupant comfort. Two side-by-side full-scale offices in Oakland, California were built to further develop and test this concept. An automated venetian blind was operated in synchronization with a dimmable electric lighting system to block direct sun, provide the design workplane illuminance, and maximize view. The research program encompassed system design refinements, energy measurements, and human factors tests. In this study, we present lighting energy and cooling load data that were monitored in this facility over the course of a year. Significant energy savings and peak demand reductions were attained with the automated Venetian blind/lighting system compared to a static venetian blind with the same dimmable electric lighting system. Correlations between key weather parameters and cooling and lighting were used to illustrate how the dynamic system was able to simultaneously achieve optimization between lighting and cooling end uses under the full range of weather conditions of this sunny, moderate climate. Energy efficiency estimates were conservative since experience shows that conventional daylighting control systems and manually operated shading devices are rarely used effectively in real world applications.

Office worker response to an automated Venetian blind and electric lighting system: a pilot study

Abstract A prototype integrated, dynamic building envelope and lighting system designed to optimize daylight admission and solar heat gain rejection on a real-time basis in a commercial office building is evaluated. Office worker response to the system and occupant-based modifications to the control system are investigated to determine if the design and operation of the prototype system can be improved. Key findings from the study are: (1) the prototype integrated envelope and lighting system is ready for field testing, (2) most office workers (N= 14) were satisfied with the system, and (3) there were few complaints. Additional studies are needed to explain how illuminance distribution, lighting quality, and room design can affect workplane illuminance preferences.

Advancement of Electrochromic Windows

Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor ADVANCEMENT OF ELECTROCHROMIC WINDOWS Prepared For: California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research Program Prepared By: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory April 2006 CEC-500-2006-052 PIER F INAL P ROJECT R EPORT

WORKER PERFORMANCE AND VENTILATION: ANALYSES OF INDIVIDUAL DATA FOR CALL-CENTER WORKERS

We investigated the relationship between ventilation rates and work performance in a call center. We randomized the ventilation controls and measured ventilation rate, differential carbon dioxide ({Delta}CO{sub 2}) concentration, temperature, humidity, occupant density, degree of under-staffing, shift length, time of day, and time required to complete two different work performance tasks (talk and wrap-up). {Delta}CO{sub 2} concentrations ranged from 13 to 611 ppm. We used multi-variable regression to model the association between the predictors and the responses. We found that agents performed talk tasks fastest when the ventilation rate was highest, but that the relationship between talk performance and ventilation was not monotone. We did not find a statistically significant association between wrap-up performance and ventilation. At high temperatures agents were slower at both the talk and wrap-up tasks. Agents were slower at wrap-up during long shifts and when the call center was under-staffed.

The Effect of Venetian Blinds on Daylight Photoelectric Control Performance

Abstract We investigate how a venetian blind, a common but optically-complex fenestration system, contributes to the unreliable performance of daylighting control systems. Using a fully instrumented, full-scale testbed facility, we monitored the daylighting performance of a modified closed-loop proportional photoelectric control system in a private office over the course of a year. The ratio of workplane illuminance from daylight to photosensor signal is characterized in terms of solar condition and venetian blind angle. Variations in this ratio causes actual illuminance levels to be periodically insufficient. This type of characterization can be used by the installer to determine whether the initial control adjustments made during commissioning will lead to reliable performance under most daylight conditions. Commissioning guidelines are given with caution, based on our observations from this specific case study. We quantified the effect of variability in this ratio on control performance. With a middle-of-the-road gain constant, monitored workplane illuminance levels did not fall below 90% of the design setpoint for 91% of the year. When discrepancies occurred, differences between the daylight correlation and measured conditions were the primary cause of insufficient illuminance at the workplane. This performance is not applicable to commercially-available closed-loop proportional systems because 1) typical systems are rarely commissioned properly upon installation, and 2) off-the-shelf systems combine the photosensor’s response to daylight and electric light into one gain parameter. Even though the prototype system was subject to the same discrepancies in the daylight correlation fit as commercially-available systems, performance was substantially improved because the prototype was able to separate the electric lighting contribution to workplane illuminance from the daylighting contribution, at no added cost. Commissioning should accommodate the effect of the fenestration system, since variations in luminance distributions produced by the window are the primary cause of unreliable performance.

Developing a Dynamic Envelope/Lighting Control System with Field Measurements

The feasibility of an intelligent venetian blind/lighting control system was tested in a 1:3 scale model outdoors under variable sun and sky conditions. The control algorithm, block direct sun and meet the design workplane illuminance level, was implemented using commercially available and custom designed blind and lighting systems hardware. While blocking direct sunlight, the blinds were properly controlled to maintain the design workplane illuminance within a tolerance of -10%, +25% when there was sufficient daylight. When daylight levels alone were inadequate, the electric lighting control system maintained the design workplane illuminance. The electric lighting could be turned off if a user-specified time period at minimum power was exceeded. Lighting energy savings of 51-71% (southwest) and 37-75% (south) was attained for the period from 8:00 to 17:00 on clear sunny days, compared to a fixed, partially closed blind with the same lighting system. Practical details for implementation and commissioning are discussed. The impact of control variations, such as profile angle, time step interval, and control area, on energy demand is investigated.

A Design Guide for Early-Market Electrochromic Windows

Switchable variable-tint electrochromic (EC) windows preserve view out while modulating transmitted light, glare, and solar heat gains. Consumers will require objective information on the risks and benefits of this emerging technology as it enters the market in 2006. This guide provides such information and data derived from a wide variety of simulations, laboratory tests, and a 2.5-year field test of prototype large-area EC windows evaluated under outdoor sun and sky conditions. This design guide is provided to architects, engineers, building owners, and others interested in electrochromic windows. The design guide provides basic information about what is an electrochromic window, what it looks like, how fast does it switch, and what current product offerings are. The guide also provides information on performance benefits if more mature product offerings were available.

Co-simulation based building controls implementation with networked sensors and actuators

The commercial building sector is one of the largest energy consumers in the U.S., and lighting, heating, ventilating and air conditioning contribute to more than half of the energy consumption and carbon emissions in buildings. Controls are the most effective way of increasing energy efficiency in building systems; however, the interdependencies among building subsystems must be taken into account to achieve deep energy savings. A networked sensing and actuation infrastructure shared among building systems is the key to optimal integrated control of the interdependent building elements in low energy and zero net energy buildings. This paper presents a rapid-prototyping controls implementation platform based on the Building Controls Virtual Test Bed (BCVTB) framework that is capable of linking to building sensor and actuator networks for efficient controller design and testing. The platform creates a separation between the controls and the physical systems so that the controller can easily be implemented, tested and tuned with real performance feedback from a physical implementation. We realized an integrated lighting control algorithm using such a rapid-prototyping platform in a testing facility with networked sensors and actuators. This implementation has demonstrated an up to 57% savings in lighting electricity and 28% reduction in cooling demand.

Final methodology for a field study of indoor environmental quality and energy efficiency in new relocatable classrooms in Northern California

LBNL-51101 Final Methodology for a Field Study of Indoor Environmental Quality and Energy Efficiency in New Relocatable Classrooms in Northern California Derek G. Shendell, Dennis Di Bartolomeo, William J. Fisk, Alfred T. Hodgson, Tosh Hotchi, Seung-Min Lee, Douglas P. Sullivan, and Michael G. Apte Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Indoor Environment Department, Environmental Energy Technology Division, Berkeley, CA Leo I. Rainer Davis Energy Group, Davis, CA Submitted to the California Energy Commission August 2002 for the Public Interest Energy Research Program funded LBNL High Performance Commercial Buildings Systems Program (HPCBS), Element 6.2.2

Worker productivity and ventilation rate in a call center: Analyses of time-series data for a group of workers

In previous studies, increased ventilation rates and reduced indoor carbon dioxide concentrations have been associated with improvements in health at work and increased performance in work-related tasks. Very few studies have assessed whether ventilation rates influence performance of real work. This paper describes part one of a two-part analysis from a productivity study performed in a call center operated by a health maintenance organization. Outside air ventilation rates were manipulated, indoor air temperatures, humidities, and carbon dioxide concentrations were monitored, and worker performance data for advice nurses, with 30-minute resolution, were analyzed via multivariate linear regression to look for an association of performance with building ventilation rate, or with indoor carbon dioxide concentration (which is related to ventilation rate per worker). Results suggest that the effect of ventilation rate on worker performance in this call center was very small (probably less than 1%) or nil, over most of the range of ventilation rate experienced during the study (roughly 12 L s{sup -1} to 48 L s{sup -1} per person). However, there is some evidence suggesting performance improvements of 2% or more when the ventilation rate per person is very high, as indicated by indoor CO{sub 2} concentrations exceeding outdoor concentrations by less than 75 ppm.