Indoor Thermal Conditions And Occupant Behavior In Residential Buildings In Summer In Chongqing

Occupant behavior has great impact on indoor environmental quality and real building energy consumption and the influence is as great as or greater than building design. The energy related behavior proves to be critical contributor to significant discrepancy between the designed and real total energy use in buildings. As a result, a deep understanding of occupant behavior is a key issue for building design optimization, retrofiting, energy diagnosis, performance. evaluation, and building energy simulation.Chongqing is in the cold winter hot summer zone which is characterized by high temperature and high humidity in summer. The cooling in Chongqing results in high energy demand as well as a great potential for energy saving. Occupant behaviors to improve indoor thermal conditions including window openning and air conditioning control are studied in summer and at the same time the real indoor thermal conditions are investigated.First, the background and significance of the research are presented. Moreover, current research status of occupant behavior and development of window openning and air conditioning control study are reviewed.Second, field measurements and online survey are combined to study occupant behavior. Continuous field measurements are conducted in four households to record window openning and air conditioner use from July to September as well as indoot thermal conditions.Third, the results are analyzed in detail to understand occupant behavior and it proves that window openning and operation of air conditioner is closely related to daily routine and there is a variety of behavioral patterns. What's more, outdoor temperature seems to have great impact on the behavior.Fourth, the behavioral patterns of air conditioner control and window openning are analyzed respectively using the logistic regression model to investigate the impact of outdoor temperature. There are two fit curves for air conditioner usage, and the “L-curve” presents that occupant has strong reliance on air conditioner while the “S-curve” shows that occupant has high tolerance temperature in summer and is less likely to use air conditioner when outdoor temperature increases. The window openning models during different time periods show two patterns. Window is always opened/closed or occupant is likely to open window when outdoor temperature decreases.Finally, the indoor thermal conditions are explored by looking at indoor temperature, relative humidity and absolute humidity.