Personalized conditioning and its impact on thermal comfort and energy performance – A review

The building industry nowadays is facing two major challenges – the increased concern for energy reduction and the growing need for comfort improvements. These challenges have led many researchers to develop a personalized conditioning system. Personalized conditioning aims to create a microclimate zone around a single workplace. In this way the energy is deployed only where it is actually needed, and the individual needs for thermal comfort are fulfilled. In recent years personalized conditioning has received a lot of attention in research publications. This paper reviews the impact of different personalized conditioning systems on thermal comfort and building energy performance. In the reviewed publications, it was demonstrated that thermal comfort can be well maintained at ambient temperatures that are 4–5K higher as well as lower than the temperatures recommended by current standards. Personalized conditioning also allows reduction in energy consumption due to an increased cooling setpoint, a decreased heating setpoint, or a decreased ventilation rate of the background system. Energy simulations show that reductions of up to 60% can be achieved.