HVAC Intelligence: Energy Conservation Based on Occupancy

This research investigates the effectiveness of implementing an occupancy-based control strategy for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems to minimize energy consumption and maintain thermal comfort. The proposed system utilizes an infrared camera to detect room occupancy. When occupancy is detected, the HVAC system adjusts the indoor temperature based on the threshold (changeover) temperature. Conversely, in unoccupied conditions, the system maintains default temperature settings designed to prevent extreme conditions (not excessively warm or overly cold). The HVAC system operation is further influenced by outdoor temperature conditions: cooling is activated when the outdoor temperature exceed the defined changeover, and heating is initiated when the outdoor temperatures fall below this threshold. The study's findings demonstrate that occupancy-based control can result in significant energy savings, quantified as 8,632 kWh/year for our small scale project, corresponding to a cost reduction of $627.06. These results highlight the potential for such systems to enhance energy efficiency while maintaining occupant thermal comfort.