Evaluation of the relationship between window use and physical environmental variables: consistency, seasonality and diversity

Abstract

Most of the window use models developed for building energy simulations include physical environmental variables as drivers. Even though it is a common approach to include these variables, the validity of this approach can be questioned based on observations in the literature regarding the consistency and seasonality of the relationship between these variables and the window use. Additionally, it was questioned whether this approach could capture the inter-occupant diversity. To assess the extent of the uncertainties, modelling methods from the literature were applied to a case study. The results revealed that a large share of the variance in window use can be attributed to the season and the household-ID. This indicates that the window use varied across the year but was stable within one season, and that these behaviours differed significantly between households. Thus occupants interacted with windows according to seasonal habits, more so then according to momentaneous environmental conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Window use
• occupant behaviour
• natural ventilation
• residential energy use

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the social housing association and the occupants of the Venning-neighbourhood who participated in this project.

Disclosure statement

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

Notes

1 The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is the European Union's main legislative instrument aiming to promote the improvement of the energy performance of buildings within the Community. Each country has its own legislation implementing these guidelines.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) under [Grant Number S009617]: Next generation building energy assessment methods towards a carbon neutral building stock (NEPBC).