Controls & Operational Strategy8 / 13
Setpoints, Scheduling & Occupancy
Reset strategies, occupancy-based control, and night setback.
9 min read · Jacob Willis, Net Zero Lead · Last reviewed July 2026
The setpoint, the target temperature, is one of the most powerful levers in HVAC efficiency. A 1 °C change in setpoint can change heating or cooling energy by 5–10%.
In this lesson
- 01Seasonal setpoints
- 02Weather compensation (automated seasonal reset)
- 03Occupancy-based control
- 04Night setback and pre-cooling
- 05Deadband between heating and cooling
- 06Practical implementation checklist
- 07Sources and further reading