Development of an adaptive window-opening algorithm to predict the thermal comfort, energy use and overheating in buildings

Rijal, H. B. and Tuohy, P. and Nicol, F. and Humphreys, M. A. and Samuel, A. and Clarke, J. (2008) Development of an adaptive window-opening algorithm to predict the thermal comfort, energy use and overheating in buildings. Journal of Building Performance Simulation, 1 (1). pp. 17-30. ISSN 1940-1493 (https://doi.org/10.1080/19401490701868448)

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Abstract

This investigation of the window opening data from extensive field surveys in UK office buildings demonstrates: 1) how people control the indoor environment by opening windows; 2) the cooling potential of opening windows; and 3) the use of an ‘adaptive algorithm’ for predicting window opening behaviour for thermal simulation in ESP-r. It was found that when the window was open the mean indoor and outdoor temperatures were higher than when closed, but show that nonetheless there was a useful cooling effect from opening a window. The adaptive algorithm for window opening behaviour was then used in thermal simulation studies for some typical office designs. The thermal simulation results were in general agreement with the findings of the field surveys. The adaptive algorithm is shown to provide insights not available using non adaptive simulation methods and can assist in achieving more comfortable, lower energy buildings while avoiding overheating.

ORCID iDs

Rijal, H. B., Tuohy, P. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4850-733X, Nicol, F., Humphreys, M. A., Samuel, A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7107-3130 and Clarke, J. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4783-5107;
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