Evaluation of a Mixed Method Approach for Studying User Interaction with Novel Building Control Technology

Birgit Painter,John Mardaljevic,Katherine Irvine,Ruth Kelly Waskett

doi:10.3390/en9030215

Birgit Painter, John Mardaljevic + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/en9030215

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Abstract

Energy-efficient building performance requires sophisticated control systems that are based on realistic occupant behaviour models. To provide robust data for the development of these models, research studies in real-world settings are needed. Yet, such studies are challenging and necessitate careful design in terms of data collection methods and procedures. This paper describes and critiques the design of a mixed methods approach for occupant behaviour research. It reviews the methodology developed for a longitudinal study in a real-world office environment where occupants’ experience with a novel facade technology (electrochromic glazing) was investigated. The methodology integrates objective physical measurements, observational data and self-reported experience data. Using data from one day of the study, this paper illustrates how the different sources can be combined in order to derive an in-depth understanding of the interplay between external daylight conditions, characteristics of the facade technology, occupant interaction with the technology and the resulting occupant experience. It was found that whilst the individual methods may be affected by practical limitations, these can be partially offset by combining physical measurements and observations with self-reported data. The paper critically evaluates the individual techniques, as well as the benefits of their integration and makes recommendations for the design of future occupant behaviour studies in real-world settings.

Highlights

Modern building design strives to provide comfortable indoor environments whilst minimising energy consumption and carbon emissions
Whilst guidance exists for measures related to the luminous environment [13], most studies acknowledge that current metrics have limitations that restrict their applicability in many working environments and recommend that further real-world research be undertaken [8,9,14]
Whilst occupant behaviour models have been developed for most common building control technologies [2], this work is currently in the early stages for EC glazing technology

Summary

Introduction

Modern building design strives to provide comfortable indoor environments whilst minimising energy consumption and carbon emissions. Reasons include: physical aspects of the test conditions do not match those of real-world environments; participant activities are not sufficiently similar to real-world working procedures; short-term exposure to test conditions does not capture the issues arising from long-term day-to-day experience; and importantly, the large range of adaptive behaviour of occupants is unlikely to be captured in laboratory settings [2,9] This mismatch between laboratory findings and real-world experiences is challenging for daylit environments, i.e., settings that have inherent benefits, yet can be problematic due to their dynamic nature, which is linked to seasonal, diurnal and random variability of sunlight. Whilst guidance exists for measures related to the luminous environment [13], most studies acknowledge that current metrics have limitations that restrict their applicability in many working environments and recommend that further real-world research be undertaken [8,9,14]

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