Impact of electricity rate structures on energy cost savings of pre-cooling controls for office buildings

This paper summarizes the results of a series of parametric analyses performed to evaluate the impact of key design and operating conditions on the effectiveness of pre-cooling control strategies for reducing peak demand and overall energy costs for office buildings. The analyses were carried out using EnergyPlus, a whole building energy simulation program. The effects of various parameters were considered in the analysis including building location, mass level, pre-cooling control strategy, and time-of-use utility rate. The results are utilized to develop general guidelines and a simplified analysis method for operators and designers to assess the potential of pre-cooling building thermal mass on reducing energy cost savings strategies for office buildings.