Towards human-centred intelligent envelopes: A framework for capturing the holistic effect of smart façades on occupant comfort and satisfaction

Intelligent buildings have the potential to simultaneously revolutionise the way humans live and reduce energy demand in buildings. In particular, the so-called, smart / dynamic / adaptive building envelope can selectively modulate the energy transfer between the building and its environment in response to transient outdoor conditions and indoor requirements, thereby providing a low-carbon means of achieving occupant satisfaction and well-being. However, the effect of smart facades on holistic occupant comfort and satisfaction with the environment is yet to be fully captured and quantified. This information is essential for evidence-based design and control of smart building envelopes. In this paper, the smart façade characteristics that underpin satisfactory environmental conditions are identified and metrics for their transient and holistic assessment are discussed. A methodology to capture the effect of smart façades on the holistic occupant comfort and satisfaction is then proposed together with its implementation into an early stage design tool. Finally, a ranking system is suggested to assess and compare alternative smart façade technologies according to their overall effect on user satisfaction and productivity for a UK climat

Gaussian Process models for ubiquitous user comfort preference sampling; global priors, active sampling and outlier rejection.

This paper presents a ubiquitous thermal comfort preference learning study in a noisy environment. We introduce Gaussian Process models into this field and show they are ideal, allowing rejection of outliers, deadband samples, and produce excellent estimates of a users preference function. In addition, informative combinations of users preferences becomes possible, some of which demonstrate well defined maxima ideal for control signals. Interestingly, while those users studied have differing preferences, their hyperparameters are concentrated allowing priors for new users. In addition, we present an active learning algorithm which estimates when to poll users to maximise the information returned

Control of HVAC system comfort by sampling

The sampling of the users comfort, allows observing and predicting the level of comfort on the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems. The development of online sampling systems assists in the recognition of the behavior patterns that occur in the offices. This paper presents a user-friendly tool designed and developed in order to make easier knowledge extraction and representation to make possible decisions about which demand that must prevail, the user comfort or saving into a central system. This decision may depend on the occupation and feeling of comfort of its occupants. Some studies have put neutral thermal conditions outside the ranges of comfort of the ASHRAE standard. The actual rules of the HVAC systems are based on studies carried out on specific populations in a specific space, which are not valid in certain situations. This is a dynamic idea of the comfort based in real data. The methodology used provides important and useful information to be able to select the comfort set-point of the rooms of a central heating system without the need to use fixed values based on programmed time schedules or any other methodology. The response to comfort in an area of a building throughout the day can be seen in this study. The users were assessed using a standard set of key questions in order to measure the level of satisfaction with environmental factors, thanks to a questionnaire of imprecise answers. We seek an improvement in the building users, regardless of their particularities

Human factors in the design of sustainable built environments

Scientific research provides convincing evidence that climate change is having significant impacts on many aspects of life. In the built-environment domain, regulatory requirements are pushing the challenges of environmental, economic, and social sustainability at the core of the professional agenda, although the aims of carbon reduction and energy conservation are frequently given a priority over occupants' comfort, well-being, and satisfaction. While most practitioners declare to embrace sustainability as a driver of their professional approach, a general lack of integrated creative and technical skills hinders the design of buildings centred on articulate and comprehensive sustainability goals, encompassing, other than energy criteria, also human-centred and ethical values founded on competent and informed consideration of the requirements of the site, the programme, and the occupants. Built environments are designed by humans to host a range of human activities. In response, this article aims to endorse a sustainable approach to design founded on the knowledge arising from scholarly and evidence-based research, exploring principles and criteria for the creation and operation of human habitats that can respond to energy and legislative demands, mitigate their environmental impacts, and adapt to new climate scenarios, while elevating the quality of experience and delight to those occupying them

Developing a valid method to study adaptive behaviours with regard to IEQ in primary schools

Adaptive behaviour impacts the classroom's environment and the student's comfort. Therefore, a deep understanding of students' adaptive behaviour is required. This study aims to develop a valid and reliable method to realize how children in their late middle childhood (9–11) practise adaptive behaviours as a response to the classroom's Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). A self-reported questionnaire accompanied with an observation form is designed based on children's ‘here and now’ sensations, their cognitive and linguistic competence. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were tested by running pilot and field studies in eight primary schools from July 2017 to May 2018. Through transverse sampling, 805 children were observed, and 1390 questionnaires were collected in 31 classrooms. Questions and responses of the designed questionnaire were validated by monitoring answer-process, non-participant observations, cross-checking questions and statistical tests. Validating process improved the wording of the questions and response categories and resulted in a questionnaire with a high and valid response rate. The reliability of the questionnaire was tested by measuring the variability and standard deviations of responses under similar conditions. To conclude, the study introduces a questionnaire and an observation form that should be used together to provide a valid and reliable method for studying adaptive behaviour of primary school children

Metodología para el análisis y toma de decisiones mediante muestreo en los edificios

The sampling of the users comfort, allows observing and predicting the level of comfort on the HVAC system. The development of online sampling systems assists in the recognition of the behaviour patterns that occur in the offices. This paper presents a methodology specially designed and developed in order to make easier knowledge extraction and representation, in this way it possible to make decisions about the comfort in buildings. The methodology used provides important and useful information to select the comfort set-point of the rooms of a central HVAC system without the need to use fixed values based on programmed time schedules or any other methodology. In this methodology, the users are evaluated by using a standard set of key questions in order to measure the level of satisfaction respect to environmental factors, thanks to a questionnaire of imprecise answers. We seek an improvement in the building users, regardless of their particularities.El muestreo del confort de los usuarios, permite observar y predecir el nivel de confort en el sistema de aire acondicionado. El desarrollo de los sistemas de muestreo online ayuda en el reconocimiento de patrones de comportamiento que se producen en las oficinas. En este trabajo se presenta una metodología especialmente diseñada y desarrollada con el fin de facilitar la extracción y representación del conocimiento, de esta manera es posible tomar decisiones sobre el confort en los edificios. La metodología utilizada proporciona información importante y útil para seleccionar el punto de ajuste del confort de las habitaciones para un sistema de climatización central, sin la necesidad de utilizar valores fijos, basados en horarios programados o cualquier otra metodología. En esta metodología, los usuarios son evaluados mediante el uso de un conjunto estándar de preguntas clave para medir el nivel de satisfacción respecto a los factores ambientales, gracias a un cuestionario de respuestas imprecisas. Buscamos una mejora en los usuarios de los edificios, independientemente de sus particularidades

Ten Questions Concerning Well-Being in the Built Environment

Well-being in the built environment is a topic that features frequently in building standards and certification schemes, in scholarly articles and in the general press. However, despite this surge in attention, there are still many questions on how to effectively design, measure, and nurture well-being in the built environment. Bringing together experts from academia and the building industry, this paper aims to demonstrate that the promotion of well-being requires a departure from conventional agendas. The ten questions and answers have been arranged to offer a range of perspectives on the principles and strategies that can better sustain the consideration of well-being in the design and operation of the built environment. Placing a specific focus on some of the key physical factors (e.g., light, temperature, sound, and air quality) of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) that strongly influence occupant perception of built spaces, attention is also given to the value of multi-sensory variability, to how to monitor and communicate well-being outcomes in support of organizational and operational strategies, and to future research needs and their translation into building practice and standards. Seen as a whole, a new framework emerges, accentuating the integration of diverse new competencies required to support the design and operation of built environments that respond to the multifaceted physical, physiological, and psychological needs of their occupants

New model for the search for comfort through surveys

This paper presents a methodology used to provide important and useful information to select dynamically the comfort set-point of the rooms for a central heating system without using fixed values based on programmed time schedules or any other methodology. It is possible to observe the users comfort level of a Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC) system through online surveys. Using fuzzy logic applied to the behaviour patterns that generally occur in an office it is possible to detect situations when it can be decided to maximise comfort and/or maximise savings. This methodology is designed to save energy in these systems depending on the occupation and comfort perception of its occupants