This study conducted experimental measurements of ventilation rates and associated pollutant concentrations in two retail stores for one-week intervals. Pollutants monitored were formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds. Based on the pollutant measurements and mass-balance modeling, different ventilation rate reduction scenarios were proposed, and for these scenarios the differences in energy consumption were estimated. This investigation focused on (a) the tradeoff between energy savings and ventilation rates that do not compromise indoor air quality, and (b) the tradeoff between energy savings and resets of indoor air temperature that do not compromise thermal comfort in winter heating conditions. Two energy simulation models for retail stores were built, calibrated, and validated with actual utility bills. Energy simulation results indicated that by lowering the ventilation rates from the measured values to the lowest acceptable values would reduce natural gas energy use by estimated 6% to 19%. Also, this study found that the electrical cooling energy consumption was not significantly sensitive to variable ventilation rates as the internal heat sources are significant. Results of optimization between heating indoor set-point temperature and different ventilation rate scenarios indicated that the lowest acceptable ventilation rate with the set point temperature of 19.4 degrees C is the best scenario.
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