Buildings energy efficiency is highly dependent on occupants’ energy and environmental lifestyle. In this view, this work aims at identifying the potential benefits of human-based energy retrofit strategies, namely human behaviour triggering actions and associated energy awareness, through large-scale surveys and calibrated building dynamic simulation. In detail, a questionnaire is submitted to office occupants to understand workers’ energy behaviours, indoor environmental perception, and identify tailored triggering actions. Therefore, different occupant behaviour scenarios involving energy wasteful and efficient human-building interactions are modelled when implemented in a case study office building in Italy. Findings show that the elimination of energy wasteful behaviours may involve building energy need reduction up to 17%. Furthermore, triggers aimed at driving energy efficient human control of HVAC setting and natural ventilation provide further annual performance improvement. Therefore, motivating occupants to change behaviour is a challenge to reduce energy consumption while improving indoor environmental conditions and cost-energy benefits.

Human-centric green building design: the energy saving potential of occupants’ behaviour enhancement in the office environment

Pioppi B.;Piselli C.;Pisello A. L.
2020

Abstract

Buildings energy efficiency is highly dependent on occupants’ energy and environmental lifestyle. In this view, this work aims at identifying the potential benefits of human-based energy retrofit strategies, namely human behaviour triggering actions and associated energy awareness, through large-scale surveys and calibrated building dynamic simulation. In detail, a questionnaire is submitted to office occupants to understand workers’ energy behaviours, indoor environmental perception, and identify tailored triggering actions. Therefore, different occupant behaviour scenarios involving energy wasteful and efficient human-building interactions are modelled when implemented in a case study office building in Italy. Findings show that the elimination of energy wasteful behaviours may involve building energy need reduction up to 17%. Furthermore, triggers aimed at driving energy efficient human control of HVAC setting and natural ventilation provide further annual performance improvement. Therefore, motivating occupants to change behaviour is a challenge to reduce energy consumption while improving indoor environmental conditions and cost-energy benefits.
2020
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11391/1477890
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