ASHRAE - American Society of Heating@ Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers@ Inc.
Scope
As air-conditioning demand has increased significantly during the last decade@ efficient energy use has become more important due to large electric power demands and limited reserves of fossil fuel. Electrical energy use fluctuates significantly during a 24-hour day due to variable demand from industrial@ commercial@ and residential activities. In hot and cold climates@ the dominant part of the load fluctuation is caused by cooling and heating demands@ respectively. If electric loads could be shifted from peak hours to off-peak hours@ not only would building operation costs decrease but the need to run peaker plants@ which typically use more fossil fuels than non-peaker plants@ would also decrease. Thus@ shifting electricity consumption from peak to off-peak hours promotes economic and environmental savings. This paper uses simulation and experimental work to examine 12 precooling strategies in three residential buildings in the Phoenix@ Arizona@ climate. The selected buildings are considered to represent the majority of residential buildings in the area. Results of this projectshowthat precoolingcansaveupto46%ofpeak energy demand in a home constructed with concrete or cementitious block and up to 35% in wood frame homes. Homeowners can save up to U.S. $244/year in block construction and up to U.S. $119/year in wood frame homes.