Artificial intelligence for smart management of HVAC systems in buildings

Abstract

This paper examines the application of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to optimize heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in buildings, aiming to reduce energy consumption while maintaining optimal thermal comfort. The study systematically analyses AI methods developed between 1993 and 2020, including artificial neural networks and fuzzy logic systems, to assess their operational effectiveness and impact on energy performance. The results show that these approaches deliver substantial energy savings (21%-44.4%) while significantly improving occupant comfort (19.8%-85.8%), adaptive controllers and models integrating individual AI preferences in building energy management, highlighting its potential to meet sustainability challenges while identifying avenues for future research in this critical area.