Comfortable and Sustainable Dorm Temperatures: Analyzing Legacy Heating Infrastructure and Improving Controls at Princeton University

Abstract

The largest global energy end-use is heat, which accounts for nearly half of the world’s final energy consumption for 2021, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Particularly, buildings alone consume 46% of the heat energy for space and water heating, while there are new cost-effective and higher efficiency technologies readily available on the market. Previous research has found that 28.1% of the energy consumed in residential buildings is wasted due to inefficient heating system use and oversetting thermostats. Many papers have concluded a need for easier and more interactive controls with feedback. Princeton University is undertaking massive construction and renovation plans to establish highly-efficient campus systems and infrastructure as a repeatable, innovative, and sustainable model for the world and reach its goal of Net Zero Emissions by 2046. Specifically, there are campus construction projects for steam-to-hot-water conversion for building heating systems to use a geo-exchange thermal energy-based hot water supply. However, there remains legacy hot-water heating technology in use in some Undergraduate Housing buildings, which do not have upgradation plans for at least the next 30 years. The disparity in user operability as well as the efficacy and efficiency of different technologies used in residential buildings, leads to dissatisfaction, low engagement, inefficient user behavior, and overall, high energy usage. This project aims to study the students’ experiences with heating system technologies on campus, analyze the legacy hot water systems and design cost-effective methods of improving the analog controls' efficacy for better user satisfaction and comfort. Future work proposed includes features for internet connectivity, improving user interaction and feedback, and employing additional sensor inputs for an accurate, intelligent control system.