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Building Research & Information Volume 49, 2021 - Issue 5
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Original Articles

Adaptive behaviour and air conditioning use in Brazilian residential buildings

Greici Ramosa LabEEE – Building Energy Efficiency Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, BrazilCorrespondence[email protected]
ORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1972-4717View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Roberto Lambertsa LabEEE – Building Energy Efficiency Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6801-671XView further author information
ORCID Icon,
Karla C. F. J. Abrahãob School of Architecture, Graduate Program in Built Environment and Sustainable Heritage, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9890-9033View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Fernanda B. Bandeirac Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urbanism, State University of Campinas, Campinas, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8688-4369View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Carla Fernanda Barbosa Teixeirad Labcon – Laboratory of Environmental Comfort, Federal University of Sergipe, Laranjeiras, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9176-1013View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Mariana Brito de Limae Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal Institute of Ceará, Juazeiro do Norte, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3978-694XView further author information
ORCID Icon,
Evandro Eduardo Brodayf LabErgo – Ergonomics Laboratory, UTFPR – Federal University of Technology – Ponta Grossa, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6613-7657View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Adriana P. A. S. Castrog DAC – Department of Architecture and Construction, State University of Campinas, Campinas, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8946-4108View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Lilianne de Queiroz Lealh UACTA – Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Pomba, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2792-8776View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Renata De Vecchia LabEEE – Building Energy Efficiency Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6141-9281View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Lizia De Moraes De Zorzii Center of Innovation and Technology, University Center of Serra Gaúcha - FSG, Caxias do Sul, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2810-4103View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Kelen A. Dornellesj IAU – Institute of Architecture and Urbanism, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5683-7139View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Silvia Duartek Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Universidade Paulista, Campus Santos, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7145-6924View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Renata G. Faiscal Department of Civil Engineering, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, BrazilView further author information
,
Marília Fontenellem Department of Architecture, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7439-3044View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Thyago Freitasn LABCA – Environmental Comfort Laboratory, Center for Higher Education of Palmas, Palmas, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5679-6552View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Camila Gregorio Atemo Department of Architecture and Urbanism, Filadelfia University Center, UniFil, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1829-1152View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Giane Grigolettip LASAC – Sustainability in the Built Environment Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0696-2062View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Liliane Macielq Department of Architecture and Urbanism, Santo Agostinho Faculty of Montes Claros–FASA, Montes Claros, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2756-2877View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Clélia Mendonça de Moraesr Araraquara City Hall - Urban Mobility Coordinating Body - Project and Pos Doc in University Federal of São Carlos - Urban Engineering Department, Araraquara, BrazilView further author information
,
Cecilia M. Muellers Environmental Comfort, Belas Artes University Center, São Paulo, BrazilView further author information
,
Thais Sartorit Independent ResearcherORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6297-7130View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Bárbara Silvau SICAC – Computational Simulation in the Built Environment, Department of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Brasília, Gama, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2494-7365View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Caio Silvav LACAM – Laboratory of Environmental Control, UnB – University of Brasília, Brasília, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8910-1841View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Marcelle Vilar da Silvaw Department of Exact and Technological Sciences – DCET, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0800-2268View further author information
ORCID Icon,
Ana Lucia Silveirax DCCA – Department of Civil Construction and Architecture, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, BrazilView further author information
,
Roberta V. G. Souzay Labcon – Laboratory of Environmental Comfort, Graduate Program in Built Environment and Sustainable Heritage, Technology of Design, Architecture and Urbanism Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0036-961XView further author information
ORCID Icon &
Antonio Augusto Xavierf LabErgo – Ergonomics Laboratory, UTFPR – Federal University of Technology – Ponta Grossa, BrazilORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3926-3911View further author information
ORCID Icon show all
Pages 496-511 | Received 18 Mar 2020, Accepted 28 Jul 2020, Published online: 18 Aug 2020
 
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ABSTRACT

This paper aims to understand and characterize occupant behaviour from a perspective of air conditioner (AC) usage. Therefore, it analyses data collected via a questionnaire applied throughout the Brazilian territory, which resulted in 3,259 valid answers explored by non-parametric statistical methods. The main results obtained were: (i) 89% of interviewed occupants prefer naturally ventilated environments at home; (ii) their preference impacts their behaviour, as those who prefer naturally ventilated environments tend to ventilate their house instead of turning on the air conditioner; (iii) climate and family income influence the availability of appliances, i.e. 93.2% of the high-income groups have at least one AC at home in extremely hot climates; (iv) there are groups with a tendency of high AC use, especially those who use AC often, also use it for a longer period of time; and (v) there is a significant difference between the setpoint temperature used in different climates; for instance, the lowest setpoint temperature is used in the hottest climate. This paper intends to contribute to a better understanding of occupants’ preferences and behavioural tendencies, especially in Brazilian residences and hot climates, while showing the influence of variables like family income and climate on such issues.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Brazilian agencies Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001; and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Brazilian agencies Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001; and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

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