Personal Thermal Comfort Management in existing Office Buildings using Energy-efficient Fans

Recent studies have shown that using energy-efficient fans along with air-conditioning system provides a thermally comfortable environment for occupants at a reduced energy consumption in hot and humid climates. In this paper, a wireless sensor and actuator network (WSAN) is used to collect data regarding the usage of personal fans by occupants in an existing air-conditioned office-space room. The data are analyzed to gain insights on the use of personal fans with respect to temperature, time of the day and other factors. The field data are compared with the SET (Standard Effective Temperature) model outlined in the ASHRAE 55-2013 Standards which evaluates the cooling effect of increased air movement. The proposed work suggests guidelines on incorporating occupant preferences in a decentralized framework for better thermal comfort and improved energy savings in existing air-conditioned buildings.