Manual vs. Optimal control of exterior and interior blind systems

Blind systems have been introduced to provide visual and thermal comfort, as well as to reduce energy use in buildings. A wide variety of such systems exist in terms of thermal and optical properties, location (exterior, interior), and physical configuration (size, distance between the blind slats). The current problem with blinds is that their operation is not based on the dynamics of the room (space), but on the static or manual control operated by occupants, although many studies have recognized that dynamic control can far outperform static control. One reason for the lack of dynamic control is that it is not easy to combine the room dynamics with any possible optimization algorithm. Hence, in this study, a whole building simulation tool, EnergyPlus, was integrated with MATLAB optimization toolbox to solve for optimal control of blind systems. This paper addresses the difference between static vs. dynamic control of interior and exterior blind systems in office buildings.