Center for the Built Environment

This paper presents a new controller for high thermal mass radiant systems that can be implemented within a typical Building Automation System. We illustrate its performance using an EnergyPlus model representing a single zone, middle floor of an office building in Sacramento, California. The results of a small sensitivity analysis show that when compared to common practice in the US this approach reduces electricity cost and energy consumption by up to 40% and 35%, respectively, while maintaining comparable comfort conditions in the zone. Furthermore, this design & control approach could eliminate the need for a chiller in most California climate zones for typical office design loads.