Rethinking the limitations of research on occupants? window-opening behavior: A review

• Main Authors: Liu, Yiqiao, Chong, Wen Tong, Yau, Yat Huang, Chang, Li, Cui, Tong, Yu, Haowei, Cui, Ying, Pan, Song
• Format: Article
• Published: ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA 2022
• Subjects: TH Building construction
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/46237/

Opening windows is by far the simplest means of ventilation. It is also crucial for energy efficiency and for creating a comfortable indoor environment. During the last decade, researchers have made great strides in investigating occupants' window operation patterns. However, the different research methods used to capture, recognize, and model behavior across the literature make it difficult to compare the results between studies. This has greatly impeded the application of window opening behavior models to build-ing energy performance simulation software. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of occupants' window opening behavior in relation to four aspects. The first aspect is data collec-tion methods, whereby different data collection methods are analyzed, and the limitations of the existing monitoring devices are pointed out. The second aspect is the factor analysis, whereby the main correlated factors for different building types are summarized. In particular, it is assessed whether indoor temper-ature and indoor CO2 concentration are drivers of the window opening behavior. The third aspect is the characterization of behavioral diversity, whereby the existing methods to characterize behavioral diver-sity are classified and compared. The final aspect is prediction models, whereby the adaptability of var-ious prediction models and the mutual validity of model evaluation indicators are discussed. In the future, scholars will need to make efforts to expand the test sample size, quantify window opening angles, consider the diversity of behavior and unify model evaluation metrics. This would help the appli-cation of predictive models in supporting building design and the evaluation of the effectiveness of energy efficiency technologies.(c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.