PhD Thesis - Energy Systems Research Unit - University of Strathclyde

the same research also suggests that bedrooms which do not double as study roomsor extended living areas (for watching television) are typically not heated during thenight. It is argued in [3] that people tend to use thick sheets and warmer clothing tokeep warm during the night rather than switching on heating. In this study it wastherefore assumed that during the heating season, for a typical Maltese climate, onlythe living areas are heated (during preset times of the day) and all bedroom areazones are thermally uncontrolled.Table 3.1 - Control settings for heating season; 3 Household buildingFloor level/ApartmentZoneHouseholdNo.Occupancy(No. ofpersons)Control time periods(Temperature limits)(‘Off’ - ‘On’)CommentGroundFloorLivingAreaBedroomArea2A 218.00-24.00 Hours(21.5°C - 18.5°C)Remaining hours wereuncontrolled24.00-07.00 HoursUncontrolledGround floor isvacant between08.00-18.00HoursMiddleFloorLivingAreaBedroomArea3B 317.00-24.00 Hours(21.5°C - 18.5°C)Remaining hours wereuncontrolled24.00-07.00 HoursUncontrolledMiddle floor isvacant between09.00-17.00HoursTop FloorLivingAreaBedroomArea4B 415.00-24.00 Hours(21.5°C - 18.5°C)Remaining hours wereuncontrolled24.00-07.00 HoursUncontrolledTop floor isvacant between10.00-15.00HoursSetting an acceptable temperature controlled range depends on an individual’s age,how active they are, type of clothing they are wearing, physiological andpsychological disposition to be adaptable to the temperature etc. [3]. Similarly,different guidelines such as ASHRAE [5] and CIBSE [6] offer slightly dissimilarinterpretations of what constitutes the optimum indoor temperature range [7]. Asshown in Table 3.1, in this study an indoor air temperature range of 18.5°C-21.5°Cwas chosen as a reasonable compromise between the various guidelines. The HVACsystem therefore was set to control the indoor air temperature inside the different92