Maximizing the Benefits of Residential Pre-Cooling - Alea German, Marc Hoeschele and David Springer, Davis Energy Group

The annual energy and cost figures are based on combining the three temperature dependent optimal setpoint strategies over the cooling season and are presented for both a reduced energy and reduced peak demand target. [...] For both house types the optimal strategies serve both the utility in terms of reduced peak demand and the homeowner in terms of lower annual utility costs. [...] The nighttime setback mode is referred to here as “Cool & Coast” (C&C) to reflect the use of the slab to store cooling and maintain indoor temperatures through the hottest periods of the day with no heat pump operation. [...] Effective strategies to target energy savings incorporate a setup of 2°F during the peak hours and result in estimated annual cooling energy savings of 15% for the Benchmark house and 9% for the high performance home. [...] With increased interest from utilities and greater sophistication in controls and appliance connectivity, the authors foresee that the future of residential pre-cooling will become more tailored to a specific house, the day’s predicted weather, occupant patterns, and the utilities predicted demands.