Abstract
In moderate climates, the operation of windows is the most common way to control for thermal comfort. Window-opening behavior (WOB) is a complex process influenced by multiple factors, yet only simple bi-variate analyses between variables obtained from longitudinal datasets have been examined. The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of indoor and outdoor environmental parameters on WOB using a statistical modeling approach called “structural equation modeling.” The results show that the indoor environmental parameters, such as operative temperature and air velocity, mediated the relationship between the outdoor environmental parameters, such as outdoor air temperature and wind gust, and the WOB. The indoor wet-bulb globe temperature rose as the solar radiation increased, and subsequently, both parameters affected the WOB. Also, an increase in outdoor wind gust led to higher indoor air velocity, which in turn resulted in a lower chance of occupants opening the window. By enhancing our understanding of the relationship between these theoretical parameters, improved design strategies on the mediating parameters can be prioritized and communicated early in the building design phase leading to more informed design decisions.
Highlights
Successful energy efficient design strategies require the adoption of advanced building system control technology and a better understanding of how occupants engage with that system
The goal of this study is to examine the relationships among indoor/outdoor environmental parameters and Window-opening behavior (WOB) using structural equation modeling (SEM)
These parameters were recorded at one-minute intervals daily and were compared with the ASHRAE 55 comfort standard [32]
Summary
Successful energy efficient design strategies require the adoption of advanced building system control technology and a better understanding of how occupants engage with that system. Occupant behavior may include opening and closing windows or blinds, overriding or deactivating energy-saving strategies, plugging in small devices, changing the cooling or heating setpoints, and use of lights which in combination will affect the total amount of energy used in the building. These individual occupants’ preference and the choices they make in the building has changed the way industry provide building design and operational services. When possible, building owners seek more climate-responsive designs allowing for more personal control and interaction which has demonstrated significant energy savings as compared to fully mechanically operated buildings [2,3].
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