Grant: Alliance Grants

This project aims to develop occupant-centric control strategies for multi-occupant spaces in response to the evolving norms of reduced and variable occupancy, particularly influenced by the post-COVID-19 flexible work arrangements. It seeks to optimize the operational methods of commercial and institutional buildings, enhancing their adaptability to fluctuating occupancy and individual occupant preferences while minimizing energy consumption. Office occupancy patterns have shifted significantly due to the pandemic, creating an opportunity to rethink conventional control strategies that rely on simplistic assumptions of full or near-full occupancy, and the incorrect notion that all people prefer a fixed set of indoor conditions. To this end, Occupant-centric control (OCC) strategies can improve occupant comfort and energy efficiency by directly measuring occupant preferences, but they traditionally faced many technical limitations. Recent developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the possible integration of Personal Comfort Systems (PCS) present further opportunities to address these issues. The project consists of four main objectives: benchmarking energy, occupancy, and occupant comfort; formulating occupant data collection and modeling approaches; developing and testing control sequences to minimize energy use and improve thermal comfort; and quantifying the effect of the control strategies on occupant comfort and energy efficiency. These objectives will be achieved through field implementation in Concordia University's living lab, and validation in similar facilities at other institutions. The project is expected to generate new scientific knowledge in the fields of OCC and Personalized Comfort Systems (PCS), filling existing knowledge gaps and providing evidence to support the adoption of OCC strategies. It has the potential to significantly reduce energy use in commercial buildings, contributing to environmental sustainability. The project also prioritizes equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in its recruitment efforts and aims to have a diverse team of researchers, while carefully considering EDI in research design and execution.