A probabilistic prediction model for window opening during transition seasons in office building

Window operation of occupants in building has close relationship with indoor air quality, indoor thermal environment and building energy performance. The objective of this study was to understand occupants' interaction with window opening in transition seasons considering the influence of subject type (e.g. active and passive respondents) and to develop corresponding predictive models. An investigation was carried out in non-air-conditioned building in the UK covering the period from September to November. Outdoor temperature in this study was determined as good predictor for window operation. The differences in window opening probabilities between active and passive subjects were significant. Active occupants preferred to open window for fresh air or for indoor thermal condition adjustment, even though the outdoor air temperature sometimes were less than 12 °C. Proper utilization of windows in transition seasons contributed significantly to building energy saving and further improve energy efficiency in buildings

Predictive analytics in facilities management: A pilot study for exploring environmental comfort using wireless sensors

Purpose: Advancements in wireless sensor technology and building modelling techniques have enabled facilities managers to understand the environmental performance of the workplace in more depth than ever before. However, it is unclear to what extent this data can be used to predict subjective environmental comfort. Thus, the aim of this study was to pilot test a methodological framework for integrating real-time environmental data with subjective ratings of environmental comfort. Design/Methodology/Approach: An open-plan office was fitted with environmental sensors to measure key indoor environmental quality parameters (carbon dioxide, temperature, humidity, illumination, and sound pressure level). Additionally, building modelling techniques were used to calculate two spatial metrics (‘workspace integration’ and workspace density) for each workspace within the study area. 15 employees were repeatedly sampled across an 11-day study period, providing 78 momentary assessments of environmental comfort. Multilevel models were used to explore the extent to which the objective environmental data predicted subjective environmental comfort. Findings: Higher carbon dioxide levels were associated with more negative ratings of air quality, higher ‘workspace integration’ was associated with higher levels of distractions, and higher workspace density was associated with lower levels of social interactions. Originality/Value: To our knowledge, this is the first field study to directly explore the relationship between physical environment data collected using wireless sensors and subjective ratings of environmental comfort. The study provides proof-of-concept for a methodological framework for the integration of building analytics and human analytics

A study of the impact of individual thermal control on user comfort in the workplace: Norwegian cellular vs. British open plan offices

In modern offices, user control is being replaced by centrally operated thermal systems, and in Scandinavia, personal offices by open plan layouts. This study examined the impact of user control on thermal comfort and satisfaction. It compared a workplace, which was designed entirely based on individual control over the thermal environment, to an environment that limited thermal control was provided as a secondary option for fine-tuning: Norwegian cellular and British open plan offices. The Norwegian approach provided each user with control over a window, door, blinds, heating and cooling as the main thermal control system. In contrast, the British practice provided a uniform thermal environment with limited openable windows and blinds to refine the thermal environment for occupants seated around the perimeter of the building. Field studies of thermal comfort were applied to measure users’ perception of thermal environment, empirical building performance and thermal control. The results showed a 30% higher satisfaction and 18% higher comfort level in the Norwegian offices compared to the British practices. However, the energy consumption of the Norwegian case studies was much higher compared to the British ones. A balance is required between energy efficiency and user thermal comfort in the workplace

Leveraging ubiquitous computing as a platform for collecting real-time occupant feedback in buildings

Building occupants represent a rich source of information for evaluating environmental design practices and building operations.  This paper presents a scalable diagnostic technology for collecting real-time Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) feedback from building occupants: an interactive desktop polling station. The device demonstrates the potential of ubiquitous computing, a model of human-computer interaction in which information processing is integrated into everyday objects, to engage occupants in providing IEQ feedback in real work environments.  Example data from a field study of a high-performance office building are presented demonstrating the applicability of multiple devices to acquire detailed feedback over daily and seasonal variations in climatic conditions.  Sample results show how polling station data can help identify the frequency and magnitude of discomfort with the spatial and temporal granularity needed to assess, validate, and improve the performance of environmentally responsive building technologies, controls, and design strategies. Analysis of repeated-measures subjective assessments paired with concurrent physical measurements is performed to demonstrate how existing standards and assumptions for occupant comfort could be evaluated and refined using detailed occupant feedback from buildings in use.  Results are discussed regarding implications for improving decision-making for the design, certification, and operation of environmentally responsive buildings

Glazing daylighting performance and Trombe wall thermal performance of a modular façade system in four different Portuguese cities

This paper reports on a new façade system that uses passive solutions in the search for energy efficiency. The differentials are the versatility and flexibility of the modules, which are important advantages of the system. The thermal performance of Trombe walls and glazings and the daylighting performance of glazing were the key aspects analyzed in the results. Computational simulations were accomplished for the thermal performance of different arrangements of the modules with DesignBuilder software. The glazing daylighting performance was studied by means of Ecotect and Desktop Radiance programs and compared with the transmittance curves of glazings. Occupancy profile and internal gains were fixed according to the Portuguese reality for both studies. The main characteristics considered in this research were the use of two double glazings, four different climates in Portugal and one and two Trombe walls in the façade. The results show an important reduction in the energy consumption with the use of Trombe walls and double self-cleaning glazing in the façade, which also presented better daylighting performance.Author Helenice M Sacht benefited from a scholarship granted by Erasmus Mundus ISAC - Improving Skills Across Continents to perform her research work at University of Minho, from which resulted this article

Summertime temperatures and thermal comfort in UK homes

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Building Research and Information [copyright Taylor & Francis], available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09613218.2013.757886Internal summertime temperatures measured in 268 homes in the UK city of Leicester are reported. The hourly data was collected from living rooms and bedrooms during the summer of 2009, which was generally cool but with a short hot spell. Some household interviews were conducted. The sample of homes is statistically representative of the socio-technical characteristics of the city’s housing stock. The data provides insight into the influence of house construction, energy system usage and occupant characteristics on the incidence of elevated temperatures and thermal discomfort. The warmest homes were amongst the 13% that were heated. Significantly more of these were occupied by those over 70 who are particularly vulnerable to high temperatures. The national heatwave plan might usefully caution against summertime heating. Temperatures in the 230 free-running homes were analysed using both static criteria and criteria associated with the BSEN15251 adaptive thermal comfort model. These indicated that that flats tended to be significantly warmer than other house types. Solid wall homes and detached houses tended to be significantly cooler. It is argued that adaptive criteria provide a valuable and credible framework for assessing internal temperatures in free-running UK homes. However, the temperatures in the Leicester homes were much lower than anticipated by the BSEN15251 model. Numerous possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed

The heat is on: Effects of synchronous music on psychophysiological parameters and running performance in hot and humid conditions

© 2018 Nikol, Kuan, Ong, Chang and Terry. Running in high heat and humidity increases psychophysiological strain, which typically impairs running performance. Listening to synchronous music has been shown to provide psychophysiological benefits, which may enhance running performance. The present randomized, crossover study examined effects of listening to synchronous music on psychophysiological parameters and running performance in hot and humid conditions. Twelve male runners (21.7 ± 2.2 y; 166.17 ± 7.18 cm; 60.32 ± 9.52 kg; 59.29 ± 5.95 ml kg-1 min-1) completed two running trials in simulated conditions (31°C and 70% humidity) with and without synchronous music. Participants ran on a treadmill inside a climatic chamber for 60 min at 60% V.O2max and continued to run to exhaustion at 80% V.O2max. Time-to-exhaustion under the synchronous music condition was 66.59% longer (mean = 376.5 s vs. 226.0 s, p = 0.02, d = 0.63) compared to the no music condition. Ratings of perceived exertion were significantly lower for the synchronous music condition at each time point (15, 30, 45, and 60 min) of the steady state portion of the running trials. Small differences in heart rate were detected between conditions. No significant between-condition differences were found in urine specific gravity, percentage of body weight loss, thermal comfort, and blood lactate. Findings suggest that listening to synchronous music is beneficial to running performance and perceived exertion in hot and humid conditions.This present study was supported by Short-term Grant (USM304.PPSP.61313041) and Research University’s Individual Grant (1001/PPSP/812149) from the Universiti Sains Malaysia