Optimizing building energy consumption through synchronization and asynchronization of occupancy and air-conditioning behavior

With the intensification of the energy crisis and the severe impact of climate change, energy conservation and emission reduction in office buildings have become imperative. This study analyzes the relationship between occupancy, air conditioning usage, and tolerance temperatures in office buildings in Wuhan and proposes a control strategy that integrates multiple behavioral patterns. The research reveals air conditioning usage often exceeds actual occupancy time between 13:00 and 14:00, while during non-occupancy periods, air conditioning continues to operate for extended periods, resulting in unnecessary energy consumption. Furthermore, modeling of tolerance temperatures shows that when indoor temperatures reach 26 degrees C or 18 degrees C, the air conditioning activation rate is lower than the standard setting. Based on these findings, the combined control strategy that incorporates occupancy, air conditioning usage habits, and tolerance temperatures demonstrates optimal energysaving effects. Compared to the baseline, this strategy reduces the annual maximum cooling and heating rates by 32 % and 37 %, respectively, and decreases building energy consumption by 35 % and 61 %. The total energy savings amount to 47 %, which is 16-30 % higher than the single-mode and 9 % higher than the combination of two modes. The innovation of this study lies in its comprehensive consideration of the multiple impacts of personnel behavior on building energy efficiency, proposing more accurate energy efficiency prediction and optimization strategies, and providing a new theoretical basis and technical path for enhancing office building energy efficiency and advancing green building development.