Using results from field surveys to predict the effect of open windows on thermal comfort and energy use in buildings

Windows are one of the major means by which building occupants control the indoor environment. This research uses results from field surveys to formulate a method for simulation of office buildings to include the effects of window opening behaviour on comfort and energy use. The paper focuses on: (1) what is general window opening behaviour? (2) how can we frame an “adaptive algorithm” to predict whether windows are open? (3) how can the algorithm be used within a simulation to allow the effects of window opening on comfort and energy use to be quantified? We have found that: (1) the proportion of windows open depends on indoor and outdoor conditions, (2) logistic regression analysis can be used to formulate an adaptive algorithm to predict the likelihood that windows are open, (3) the algorithm when embedded in simulation software provides insights not available using more usual simulation methods and allows the quantification of the effect of building design on window opening behaviour, occupant comfort and building energy use.