Office Building Plug Load Profiles
| Authors: |
Brad Acker, University of Idaho Integrated Design Lab |
| Published: | March 13, 2012 |
| Links: | Pre-print pdf |
| Introduction: | This paper presents the findings from a two-year project to characterize space level plug load profiles and explore load reduction interventions and their effects on load shapes in typical commercial office spaces. A total of six office spaces were studied comprising 48,500 square feet (SF) and inventorying 1,360 plugged devices. Baseline plug load profiles are presented along with load profiles and savings in spaces that had plug load reduction interventions installed. Interventions investigated included occupancy sensor plug strips, load sensing plug strips, educational and behavior based strategies, and replacement of legacy equipment with Energy Star ® equipment. A total of 121 plug strips were installed in two spaces. One space utilized 33 occupancy sensor plug strips while the other space had 88 load sensing plug strips installed. The behavior based intervention consisted of education of plug load impacts and reminders via e-mails to turn off unused equipment. Average saving of 0.6 kWh/SF*Yr were found with plug strip interventions and 0.76 kWh/SF*Yr from Energy Star ® equipment upgrades. Results from the educational campaign are not conclusive due to confounding factors during the study period. Practical issues and policy implications around these various interventions are discussed. The energy savings potential for server level control of individual computer stations is also discussed. This paper provides guidance to utility program specialists aiming to develop incentives for plug load efficiency strategies, energy efficiency researchers and energy modelers when estimating plug load intensities and profiles in simulations. |