Advanced thermostats for small- to medium-sized commercial buildings

Panel: 5. The role of energy management systems, education, outreach and training

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Jeffrey Perkins
Michael Rovito, ERS, USA
Gita Subramony, ERS, USA

Abstract

Large commercial buildings typically incorporate building management systems (BMSs) that facilitate the control of multiple HVAC systems. Such BMSs are not as prevalent in smaller commercial buildings due to cost and complexity. However, advanced thermostats are emerging that can provide Internet communication and enable the visibility and control of HVAC systems needed to reach higher levels of efficient operation in this smaller class of buildings.

Quick, easy, and ubiquitous communication capabilities create opportunities for energy and demand savings through enhanced HVAC performance management by facility staff. Additionally, the newest advanced thermostats can integrate with and control other energy consuming systems, such as lighting and/or plug loads. The combination of these features suggests that advanced thermostats have the potential to fulfill the original savings promised by programmable thermostats, massively increase the available data on HVAC performance, change the relationship between the HVAC unit and facility staff, and become the central building block of modular and more cost-effective BMSs.

Before this potential can be fulfilled, however, significant knowledge gaps – particularly those regarding the communications architecture that underlies advanced thermostats – must be addressed. The status of a $3 million DOE-funded effort supporting the development of an open-source communications architecture will be discussed. This paper will present the current state of the technology as well as identify the knowledge and performance gaps still to be closed before program administrators can fully support the measure.