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A Case for Thermostat User Models

This study explores common misconceptions about thermostats, such as their roles as simple switches and the effects of adjusting temperatures on energy usage. We analyzed data from 82 apartment units with installed programmable thermostats and utilized temperature/RH sensors to understand actual usage patterns. Findings revealed significant behavioral variations, suggesting that misconceptions significantly impact energy consumption. Additionally, the results indicated that existing energy modeling tools do not fully account for behavioral variability in thermostat settings and schedules.

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A Case for Thermostat User Models

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  1. A Case for Thermostat User Models Bryan Urban and Carla Gomez Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy SystemsCambridge, MA, USA email: burban@fraunhofer.org

  2. Misconceptions of Thermostats • An on/off switch • A dimmer switch • An accelerator • Turning down the thermostat has little or no effect on energy consumption http://www.forwardthinking.honeywell.com/products/thermostats/thermostat_products.html

  3. How People Use Thermostats • Overrides • Temporary override • Long-term override • Permanent hold • Use to turn heating system on and off • Leave on and open windows • 20% are set to the incorrect time http://www.forwardthinking.honeywell.com/products/thermostats/thermostat_products.html

  4. Field Study • 82 apartment units tested • Installed • Programmable thermostats • Temperature/RH sensors • Furnace state sensors • 60 units provided adequate feedback http://www.revereha.org/Liston-Towers.html

  5. Fixed Setpoints Schedules Infrequent Override Frequent Override

  6. Fixed Setpoints Schedules 72.2 °F 71.0 °F Infrequent Override st. dev. 2.8 °F st. dev. 2.6 °F 73.0 °F 71.3 °F Frequent Override st. dev. 4.7 °F st. dev. 5.0 °F

  7. Fixed Setpoints Schedules 77 therms 26 therms Infrequent Override st. dev. 58 st. dev. 14 76 therms 75 therms Frequent Override st. dev. 32 st. dev. 56

  8. Conclusions • Misconceptions about thermostats lead to unexpected usage patterns • Behavioral differences lead to large variation in energy consumption • ASHRAE 90.2 did not accurately describe real setpoints or schedules • Existing energy modeling tools can model behavioral variability in thermostat schedules

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