Improper Window Use in Office Buildings: Findings from a Longitudinal Study in Beijing, China

Abstract

Occupants' window opening behavior influences the performance of buildings significantly. Good window use can provide a comfortable indoor environment with a minimum energy use, while improper window use may result in bad indoor environment and may also waste great energy. This paper identifies improper window uses in an existing building in Beijing, China, based on a year-long longitudinal monitoring of occupants' window opening behavior, together with important indoor and outdoor environmental variables. The findings from this study provide evidence that occupants' window opening behavior in real buildings is required to be improved to promote the energy efficiency of the building.