Showing papers on "Thermal comfort published in 1978"

Designing buildings for minimal energy consumption

Abstract: A dynamic model for predicting the thermal behaviour and energy consumption of a full-scale building has been developed. The model can include most of the design and climatological factors affecting the building. The time-dependent equation for the heat flow through the walls is converted into an implicit scheme and solved numerically. Special effort has been devoted to producing a model capable of aiding the architect during the various steps of building design, so as to approach thermal comfort with minimal energy consumption. The results are presented in graphical form, which allows the architect to detect easily the crucial factors in the thermal performance of the building.

Energy conservation and thermal comfort in a New York city high rise office building

Abstract: Detailed analysis of an energy conservation program implemented on a 46 story government building is presented. Conservation was achieved by reduced lighting, changes in building operating hours, thermostat settings of 20‡C (68‡F) in the winter and 27‡C (80‡F) in the summer, and the elimination of air conditioning reheat. As a result, energy consumption in the summer was reduced by 54 percent. A survey of the occupants' thermal comfort and the insulating value of thei r clothing was taken. In the summer 68 percent were comfortable compared with 80 percent in the winter. The insulating value of the clothing worn by the women was consistently less than that of the men; the difference was largest in the summer. Though the temperatures in the occupied spaces were not as cold or as warm as the thermostat settings, the survey indicates that comfort could be improved if occupants dressed more appropriately for the expected thermal environment of the work place. An energy analysis with a building simulation program (NBSLD) was also undertaken. The simulated energy consumption was within 5 percent of the measured values. Additional large savings may be achieved in this and similar buildings through a reduction in the energy cost of transporting air and chilled and hot water around the building for the environmental control systems.

Conserving Energy by Expanding the Thermal Comfort Envelope

Abstract: Standard 55–74 entitled “Thermal Conditions for Human Occupancy” which is published by The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers, (ASHRAE) defines an “acceptable thermal environment” as one in which “at least 80 percent of the normally clothed men and women while engaged in indoor sedentary or near sedentary activities would express thermal comfort.” This is pictured on the ASHRAE psychrometric chart as an envelope that includes dry bulb temperatures between 74°F and 77°F at relative humidities between 20% and 60%. The paper will describe five human factors approaches that have been used or are being considered to expand this envelope and thereby conserve energy. These are (1) the use of small radiant heaters which are installed in the modesty panels of desks so comfort may be attained at lower temperatures; (2) the demonstration that night set-back of thermostats to temperatures as low as 50°F do not effect sleeping patterns; (3) the role that interior decor can play ...