@article {30484, title = {Human-building interaction at work: Findings from an interdisciplinary cross-country survey in Italy}, journal = {Building and Environment}, volume = {132}, year = {2018}, abstract = {

This study presents results from an interdisciplinary survey assessing contextual and behavioral factors driving occupants{\textquoteright} interaction with building and systems in offices located across three different Mediterranean climates in Turin (Northern), Perugia (Central), and Rende (Southern) Italy. The survey instrument is grounded in an interdisciplinary framework that bridges the gap between building physics and social science environments on the energy- and comfort-related human-building interaction in the workspace. Outcomes of the survey questionnaire provide insights into four key learning objectives: (1) individual occupant{\textquoteright}s motivational drivers regarding interaction with shared building environmental controls (such as adjustable thermostats, operable windows, blinds and shades, and artificial lighting), (2) group dynamics such as perceived social norms, attitudes, and intention to share controls, (3) occupant perception of the ease of use and knowledge of how to operate control systems, and (4) occupant-perceived comfort, satisfaction, and productivity. This study attempts to identify climatic, cultural, and socio-demographic influencing factors, as well as to establish the validity of the survey instrument and robustness of outcomes for future studies. Also, the paper aims at illustrating why and how social science insights can bring innovative knowledge into the adoption of building technologies in shared contexts, thus enhancing perceived environmental satisfaction and effectiveness of personal indoor climate control in office settings and impacting office workers{\textquoteright} productivity and reduced operational energy costs.

}, keywords = {Human-building interaction, indoor environmental comfort, interdisciplinary framework, occupant behavior, office buildings, questionnaire survey}, doi = {10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.01.039}, author = {Simona D{\textquoteright}Oca and Anna Laura Pisello and Marilena De Simone and Verena M. Barthelmes and Tianzhen Hong and Stefano P. Corgnati} } @article {60962, title = {Advances in research and applications of energy-related occupant behavior in buildings}, journal = {Energy and Buildings}, volume = {116}, year = {2016}, month = {03/2016}, pages = {694-702}, abstract = {

Occupant behavior is one of the major factors influencing building energy consumption and contributing to uncertainty in building energy use prediction and simulation. Currently the understanding of occupant behavior is insufficient both in building design, operation and retrofit, leading to incorrect simplifications in modeling and analysis. This paper introduced the most recent advances and current obstacles in modeling occupant behavior and quantifying its impact on building energy use. The major themes include advancements in data collection techniques, analytical and modeling methods, and simulation applications which provide insights into behavior energy savings potential and impact. There has been growing research and applications in this field, but significant challenges and opportunities still lie ahead.

}, keywords = {Behavior Modeling, Building design and operation, building performance simulation, energy use, occupant behavior}, doi = {10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.11.052}, author = {Tianzhen Hong and Sarah C. Taylor-Lange and Simona D{\textquoteright}Oca and Da Yan and Stefano P. Corgnati} } @article {60959, title = {An Ontology to Represent Energy-Related Occupant Behavior in Buildings. Part II: Implementation of the DNAS framework using an XML schema}, journal = {Building and Environment}, volume = {94}, year = {2015}, month = {08/2015}, pages = {196-205}, abstract = {

Energy-related occupant behavior in buildings is difficult to define and quantify, yet critical to our understanding of total building energy consumption. Part I of this two-part paper introduced the DNAS (Drivers, Needs, Actions and Systems) framework, to standardize the description of energy-related occupant behavior in buildings. Part II of this paper implements the DNAS framework into an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) schema, titled {\textquoteleft}occupant behavior XML{\textquoteright} (obXML). The obXML schema is used for the practical implementation of the DNAS framework into building simulation tools. The topology of the DNAS framework implemented in the obXML schema has a main root element OccupantBehavior, linking three main elements representing Buildings, Occupants and Behaviors. Using the schema structure, the actions of turning on an air conditioner and closing blinds provide two examples of how the schema standardizes these actions using XML. The obXML schema has inherent flexibility to represent numerous, diverse and complex types of occupant behaviors in buildings, and it can also be expanded to encompass new types of behaviors. The implementation of the DNAS framework into the obXML schema will facilitate the development of occupant information modeling (OIM) by providing interoperability between occupant behavior models and building energy modeling programs.

}, keywords = {building energy consumption, building simulation, energy modeling, obXML, occupant behavior, XML schema}, doi = {10.1016/j.buildenv.2015.08.006}, author = {Tianzhen Hong and Simona D{\textquoteright}Oca and Sarah C. Taylor-Lange and William J. N. Turner and Yixing Chen and Stefano P. Corgnati} }