Smart operation and control of offices to improve comfort and energy performance

建筑在我们的环境影响中扮演着重要的角色（例如，53%的电力使用和35%的温室气体排放），约占加拿大国内生产总值的15%，并且代表了我们90%以上的生活和工作环境。净零能耗建筑在减少建筑影响方面具有巨大潜力。然而，为了实现这一雄心勃勃的目标，至关重要的是，建筑不仅要设计，而且要以近乎最佳的方式运营。拟议的项目包括互补部分，以显着提高办公和区域规模的商业建筑的性能：1)开发和实验验证用于估计舒适度和能源相关变量和状态的新型虚拟传感器；2)开发和现场测试适应性，建筑/居住者学习控制，之前由申请人团队开发。该项目包括卡尔顿大学的两位主要研究人员，一位新毕业的博士研究生，以及加拿大Delta Controls公司的合作伙伴，为期四年。Delta Controls在建筑控制市场上处于领先地位，过去三年一直与研究人员合作。他们有能力吸收研究成果，并将其发展成适销对路的产品或服务。Delta Controls一直致力于发挥主要的支持作用，包括：学生培训，设备和软件，技术咨询和支持，以及协助现场测试和实验室设置。本研究的新成果包括虚拟传感器和办公室自适应控制的发展。总的来说，这些系统预计将减少30%以上的能源消耗，同时提高居住者的舒适度和生产力。除了帮助加拿大实现其排放目标和减少对能源基础设施的需求外，开发的虚拟传感器和控制算法将使该行业合作伙伴成为全球先进办公楼控制和运营市场的领头羊。

Buildings play a significant role in our environmental impact (e.g., 53% of electricity use and 35% of greenhouse gas emissions), comprise of about 15% of Canada's gross domestic product, and represent our living and working environment for over 90% of the time. Net-zero energy buildings have great potential to reduce buildings' impact. However, in order to achieve this ambitious target, it is critical that buildings not only be designed, but also operated, near-optimally. The proposed project comprises of complementary parts to significantly improve the performance of commercial buildings at the office and zone scale: 1) development and experimental validation of novel virtual sensors for estimating comfort and energy-related variables and states and 2) development and field testing of adaptive, building/occupant-learning controls that were previously developed by the applicant's team. The project involves the partnership of two leading Carleton University researchers, one new and an accomplished PhD student, and Canada-based Delta Controls Inc., for a four-year term. Delta Controls leads the building controls market and has previously collaborated with the researchers for the past three years. They have the capacity to uptake the research results and develop them into marketable products or services. Delta Controls has committed to playing a major supporting role, including: student training, equipment and software, technical advice and support, and the assistance with field testing and laboratory setup. The novel outcomes of this research include development of virtual sensors and adaptive controls for offices. Together, these systems are expected to reduce energy use by over 30%, while increasing occupant comfort and productivity. Aside from helping Canada achieve its objectives in emissions and reducing the need for energy infrastructure, the developed virtual sensors and control algorithms will position the industry partner to be first to the global market in advanced office building controls and operations.