Enhancing demand side management: A field study on flexibility and personal thermal control

Demand side management (DSM) is a strategy for district heating (DH) networks to reduce peak demand and energy costs. Traditional DSM methods apply fixed temperature reductions, assuming uniform occupant tolerance, which can limit effectiveness or cause discomfort. This paper presents findings from a longitudinal field study (2023–2024 heating season, Stockholm, Sweden) evaluating a personalized DSM approach. Using the ComfortID mobile application, approximately 70 users could accept, or abort DSM events based on individual thermal comfort preference. The results showed that about 25% of events were cancelled. Accepted events averaged a 0.8-K reduction over 22 hours and 54 minutes; cancelled events showed a 1.1-°C reduction over 76 minutes. Additionally, the study found that participants’ thermal sensations significantly deviated from the ISO 7730 standard, highlighting the limitations of generic models. Incorporating personalized thermal models doubled occupant flexibility for DSM compared to a population-based approach. The results demonstrate that integrating personalization into DSM programs can enhance flexibility and energy savings up to 28% without compromising occupant's comfort.