Agent-based modelling to improve comfort and save energy in the built environment

In Europe comfort in buildings needs 40% of the total energy. With effects of Global warming becoming more and more apparent there is a need to reduce this energy demand by comfort within the built environment. In comfort control strategy there is an exciting development based on inclusive design: the user's preferences and their behaviour have become central in the building services control strategy. Synergy between end-user and building is the ultimate in the intelligent comfort control concept. This new comfort control technolog is based on the use of agent technology and can further reduce energy consumption of buildings while at the same time improve individual comfort. The TU/e (Technische Universiteit Eindhoven) together with Kropman and ECN (Energy research Centre Netherlands) work together in the research for user based preference indoor climate control technology. Central in this approach is the user focus of the whole building design process which makes it possible to reduce energy consumption by tuning demand and supply of the energy needed to fulfill the comfort demand of the occupants building.