Influence of User Behaviour on Indoor Environmental Quality and Heating Energy Consumptions in Danish Dwellings

Models of occupants’ interactions with heating controls based on measurements were implemented in a simulation program. Simulation results were given as probability distributions of energy consumption and indoor environmental quality depending on user behaviour. Heating set-point behaviour of 13 Danish dwellings were analysed by means of logistic regression to infer the probability of adjusting the set-point of TRVs.

Three different models of occupant’s interactions with heating controls were obtained and implemented in a building simulation tool. They were used to investigate how different probabilistic user patterns influence indoor climate quality and energy consumptions. The aim was to compare the obtained results with an actual/deterministic use of the simulation program.

Since comfort categories are related to users’ expectations and the users’ impact is crucial on determining the energy consumption, findings highlight the influence of comfort categories on energy consumption. The probabilistic methodology can be applied in all aspects of user interactions with building controls such as window openings, shading devices, etc. to achieve more realistic predictions of energy consumptions.