The search for energy conservation measures is one of the most vital concerns of our times. Since we use energy in so many diverse ways there are many areas to be explored to find better and more conservative ways to do things., One area of newly developing technology which offers great potential for energy conservation is the use of microcomputers to implement improved environmental control strategies in residential and commercial heating and cooling systems.

There are several ways by which an investigation of, the effect of improved control strategies on energy conservation could be carried out. These methods include full scale testing, , computer simulation, and scale model testing. Each has unique advantages and disadvantages.

The scale model testing method was chosen for the present study. Since there has been very little prior work on scale modeling of environmental systems, this approach provides the opportunity to, explore its, potential as well as the benefits of advanced control strategies.

In order to provide a basis for evaluating the quality of the scale modeling it is necessary to find a prototype for which thermal environmental data could be obtained. The building selected for the prototype was a 4-bedroom, wood-frame townhouse which has been tested by the National Bureau of Standards. The data collected in, the National Bureau of Standards tests provided the basis,for the design and evaluation of the scale model.

The present study is being carried out in three phases. In the first phase, the thermal modeling criteria were developed and the model house was designed and constructed. In the second phase, a detailed model verification was carried out. The verification procedure included exposing the model house to environmental conditions corresponding to those which the NBS townhouse (prototype) was exposed and comparing the thermal responses of the model and prototype. These included static and dynamic responses of the house. In the third phase, improved control strategies, by use of microcomputers, are being implemented to compare the effectiveness of alternative control strategies on reducing energy consumption.

This paper presents the results of the first and second phases of the project. The third phase, control strategy studies, is in progress. Results of that work will be reported at a later date.