Optimal energy incentive design for occupant-engaged commercial building control

Abstract

Commercial buildings account for 19% of energy consumption in the US. Occupants play a significant role in commercial building energy efficiency. If occupants can adjust their behaviors, significant energy can be saved without retrofitting. To invite occupants into the control loop, we developed occupant-engaged building control system, collaborative energy management and control (CEMC), through which occupants can submit their temperature and calendar preferences. The system features with an occupant energy dashboard to rank energy consumptions of individual thermal zones. In this demonstration, we present an optimal incentive design (OID) tool as part of CEMC to help FMs to allocate the proper amount of incentive to occupants each week to encourage energy responsible behaviors. While too less incentive may not motivate occupants, too much incentive may erode energy savings, even introduce finical losses. This system is an embodiment of occupant-engaged building automation architecture, where we utilize human as sensors and actuators via web portals.