A simplified model for evaluating the energy saving potential of adopting demand controlled ventilation in office buildings in Hong Kong

Demand controlled ventilation (DCV) to conserve energy while maintaining an acceptable indoor environment has been used for over 30 years. However, little work has been done on evaluating its energy saving potential in cooling dominant office buildings in subtropical climate. In this study, the energy saving potential of DCV system for use in six representative office buildings in Hong Kong was investigated by simulations. Simulation validation was done based on in situ measurements and site surveys. The findings show that, based on their original design conditions, the use of DCV could lead to 12.5–26.1% energy saving. To facilitate quick estimation of the energy saving potential of DCV system, further simulations were performed for the development of a simplified model. The simplified model relates the energy saving potential to key air-conditioning system and design parameters. Based on the simplified model, sensitivity analysis was conducted to quantify the influences of different parameters on the energy saving potential of DCV system. The developed model method can be used for prediction on the energy saving potential in a wider application of DCV in Hong Kong.