Main physical environmental variables driving occupant behaviour with regard to natural ventilation

Energy consumption in buildings is influenced by building properties, building controls and the way that these are used by the occupants of the building. This paper focuses on natural ventilation concerning the occupants’ habits of opening/closing the windows in residential buildings. Preeminent variables influencing the occupants’ use of windows are investigated and the main results of a literature review are highlighted.

Statistical analysis of data coming from measurements of occupants’ window opening, conducted in 15 dwellings in Denmark, are developed to infer the probability of opening and closing windows and to determine relationships between environmental conditions and the occupants’ window opening behaviour.

The main physical environmental variables that have been found to be important drivers in determining the action to open or close windows are defined on the basis of the measurements. The ultimate goal is to provide more accurate information about driving forces related to the window opening and closing behaviour.