Systems Engineering Approach to Energy Optimization of Residential HVAC Systems under Variable Climatic Conditions
Authors
Igor Kudinov
Share
Annotation
The ongoing transformation of residential energy infrastructure has fundamentally altered the role of HVAC systems in modern buildings. Contemporary HVAC systems can no longer be understood as isolated mechanical installations designed solely to provide thermal comfort. Instead, they constitute integral components of complex energy ecosystems that interact dynamically with building envelopes, electrical networks, regulatory frameworks, and human behavior patterns. Under California climate conditions characterized by high climatic variability, stringent energy-efficiency regulations, and rapidly evolving energy markets the design and optimization of HVAC systems require advanced systems engineering methodologies. Traditional engineering approaches, which focus on isolated technical parameters such as efficiency or capacity, are insufficient to address the multidimensional challenges of modern residential energy systems. This article proposes a systems engineering paradigm for the analysis and optimization of residential HVAC systems. The research integrates principles of general systems theory, thermodynamics, cybernetics, complexity science, and lifecycle oriented engineering. It is argued that energy efficiency in HVAC systems represents an emergent system property arising from interactions among technical, economic, environmental, and behavioral factors. The proposed paradigm demonstrates that systemic methodologies enable the identification of latent technological contradictions and the development of innovative engineering solutions with long-term strategic significance for residential energy infrastructure.
Keywords
Authors
Igor Kudinov
Share
References:
ASHRAE. ASHRAE Handbook: Fundamentals. Atlanta: ASHRAE, 2021, pp. 1–1.56.
ASHRAE. ASHRAE Handbook: HVAC Systems and Equipment. Atlanta: ASHRAE, 2021, pp. 31–32.48.
ASHRAE. ASHRAE Handbook: HVAC Applications. Atlanta: ASHRAE, 2021, pp. 1–3.42.
California Energy Commission. 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24). Sacramento, CA, 2019, pp. 45–112.
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS). Washington, DC, 2020, pp. 15–67.
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Energy Efficiency Trends in Residential Buildings. Washington, DC, 2019, pp. 21–98.
International Energy Agency (IEA). Heating and Cooling Technologies Report. Paris, 2022, pp. 22–94.
International Energy Agency (IEA). Energy Efficiency 2023. Paris, 2023, pp. 10–7
Wang, S., Ma, Z. Supervisory and Optimal Control of Building HVAC Systems. London: Springer, 2008, pp. 55–142.
Dincer, I., Rosen, M.A. Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development. Oxford: Elsevier, 2020, pp. 201–286.
Kalogirou, S.A. Solar Energy Engineering: Processes and Systems. London: Academic Press, 2014, pp. 311–389.
Duffie, J.A., Beckman, W.A. Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes. New York: Wiley, 2013, pp. 455–5
Bertalanffy, L. von. General System Theory. New York: George Braziller, 1968, pp. 30–112.
Wiener, N. Cybernetics: Or Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1961, pp. 87–210.
Checkland, P. Systems Thinking, Systems Practice. Chichester: Wiley, 1999, pp. 55–176.
Meadows, D. Thinking in Systems: A Primer. London: Earthscan, 2008, pp. 1–128.
IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy. Vol. 12, No. 3, 2021, pp. 1452–1465.
IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics. Vol. 68, No. 5, 2021, pp. 4210–4223.
Other articles of the issue
