Incorporating users’ adaptive behaviors into multi-objective optimization of shading devices: A case study of an office room in Qingdao

Abstract

Users' adaptive behaviors significantly affect the indoor environment and energy use. Neglecting them would introduce considerable uncertainty in the computer simulation results and lead to suboptimal or even invalid energy-efficiency solutions in optimization. To address this issue, we abstracted and simplified three user behavior patterns, including adjustment of operable shading devices, switching on/off artificial lighting, and opening windows for natural ventilation by a brief literature review. We then developed a new simulation approach that incorporates these behavior patterns and applied it to optimize the exterior fixed solar shade design of a south-facing office room in Qingdao as an example. The baseline model was established and validated in both daylight and energy simulations. The results demonstrate that the addition of user behavior models has a significant impact on both illuminance and load simulation results. The evaluation of each shading solution under the traditional approach and the newly-developed approach shows considerable differences, leading to the selection of different optimal solutions. Ultimately, the 0.6-meter-long type 8 (horizontal sunshade combined with vertical triangular panels on both sides) and 0.7-meter-long type 4 (double-sided vertical shading) were selected as the optimal solution using the traditional approach and new approach, respectively. This research offers valuable insights into the user behavior pattern and uses a shading optimization example to demonstrate the significant impact of incorporating adaptive behavior mechanisms on simulation and optimization results. The approach established in this paper has the potential to be extended to other solutions, being conducive to the study of refined building efficiency strategies for different conditions.