Energy Savings by Wideband Temperature Control in Telephone Offices

Abstract

In 1982, 6.9 million BOE of energy costing nearly $600 million was used in approximately 16,000 Bell System Telephone equipment buildings. About 27% of that energy was used for heating, ventilating and air conditioning. The most cost-effective measure for reducing such energy use has been Wideband Temperature Control which provides no heating, cooling or fan operation between 65 F and 80 F, except for special equipment or ventilation requirements.

Building energy load and use programs predicted a 30% annual energy savings with Wideband Temperature Control compared to continuously maintaining 70 to 75 F. To verify these savings and assess impact on equipment reliability, field tests were conducted in a representative telephone office in Birmingham, Alabama. Annual energy savings of 25 to 40% were measured during the tests depending on operating conditions. These tests are described and specific results are presented.