A critical review of observation studies, modeling, and simulation of adaptive occupant behaviors in offices

Publication date: December 2013
Source:Building and Environment, Volume 70
Author(s): H. Burak Gunay , William O'Brien , Ian Beausoleil-Morrison
Occupants' behaviors account for significant uncertainty in building energy use. A better understanding of occupant behaviors is needed in order to manage this uncertainty; as such many studies have been dedicated to this topic. The current paper reviewed the research on adaptive occupant behaviors by sorting it into three categories. The first group encompasses all observational studies. The second group includes modeling studies. The third group incorporates the simulation studies. The current paper presents the methodologies used in these studies, discusses the limitations associated with their application, and develops recommendations for future work. Generalized linear models – in particular, logistic regression models – were found to be appropriate for modeling occupant behavior. Reversal of adaptive behaviors (e.g. window closing) was modeled with deadband models or survival models. Occupant models were typically simulated as discrete-time Markov processes. It was concluded that with appropriate selection of building geometry and materials and occupant-predicting control strategies, impact of occupant behaviors on the building performance can be reduced.