Adaptive Thermal Comfort (Advanced Technologies & Industrial Innovation Hackathon)

The HVAC industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation—driven by regulations, digitization, sustainability, and evolving business models. As we push towards carbon-neutrality and smarter living spaces, HVAC systems need to become more intelligent, efficient, and centered around human comfort.

The latter proved to be a challenge for open spaces such as open plan offices, occupied by numerous people.

Modern HVAC systems are now challenged with incorporating real-time user feedback combined with reinforcement learning—adjusting performance dynamically based on comfort preferences and energy price signals, and changing outdoor and indoor condition while achieving cost savings and comfort improvements.

Occupant-Centric Controls:
Traditionally, open plan spaces or offices would have a stationary thermostat (often with restricted access or control to avoid so called ‘’thermostat wars’’). Beyond static schedules, systems are now challenged to respond to real-time occupant presence, preferences, and behavior, optimizing HVAC operations based on who is in the space and when.

Adaptive Thermal Comfort Challenge:

• Design an HVAC control system based on adaptive comfort models instead of fixed setpoints.
• Collect occupant feedback via an app or survey.
• Adjust setpoints dynamically to save energy.

Trend Link: Human-centric HVAC + energy efficiency.