investigating building Performance Through Simulation of Occupant behavior

ABSTRACT: This research investigates opportunities for improving building performance and occupant satisfaction through an iterative process of empirical fieldwork in green buildings and computer simulation modeling. This project demonstrates that the simulation-modeling framework is feasible and useful. Additionally, this project has generated a variety of important empirical insights about how the usability of building-level green features and social and organizational factors affect occupant and operator behavior. Next steps include strengthening and disseminating the simulation-modeling framework, extending it and the field research to address more fully the operator-occupant nexus and similar social and organizational factors, and advancing consideration of usability metrics within the LEED framework