Investigation of the Impact of Thermal Comfort Range on Energy Consumption in Office Buildings - A Case Study of the Supreme Audit Court Building of Iran

Niloofar Hashemi¹ Mohammad Ali Favakeh²

1) PHD in Architecture, University of Tehran
2) PHD in project management, Shiraz Municipality

IOI Code : XGCA-AZZHZE
Publication : 3rd.International Conference on Architecture, Civil Engineering, Urban Development, Environment and Horizons of Islamic Art in the Second Step Statement of the Revolution(3icacu.ir)
Abstract :
    Determining the thermal comfort range inside buildings should be tailored to different seasons and climates. One of the most critical applications of defining the thermal comfort range is regulating thermostat temperatures in heating and cooling equipment. If this temperature range is not accurately determined, it can lead to increased energy consumption in HVAC systems and consequently higher costs. In this study, the thermal sensation of individuals in the Supreme Audit Court building of Iran was measured based on air temperature measurements inside rooms and the completion of thermal comfort questionnaires by its employees for two seasons: summer and winter. The obtained thermal comfort range was compared with the comfort range in the Fanger model in ISO 7730 standard. The results showed differences in the thermal comfort range compared to the room temperature range in the Fanger model, with higher thermal comfort range for individuals compared to the room temperature range in summer and lower in winter. In other words, employees in this building often experience cold in the summer and warmth in the winter, indicating a mismatch between the temperatures of mechanical systems and the thermal comfort range of the occupants. As a result, in this paper, based on the average thermal sensation of individuals, the thermal comfort range is proposed to be between 26.25 to 31.18 degrees Celsius in summer and between 14.6 to 22.3 degrees Celsius in winter. Adjusting thermostat temperatures within these ranges can lead to energy savings of up to 35.7% in summer and 33.6% in winter.

Keywords : thermal comfort fanger pmv model effective temperature range air temperature relative humidity