Identifying occupant behaviour profiles for multifamily residential buildings with natural ventilation in Florianópolis

Abstract Interactions between occupant and built environment define the occupant behaviour. This set of information is essential for improving results obtained from computer simulations, since occupant behaviour influences building thermal and energetic performance. In this study, the influence of the occupant behaviour on the thermal performance of a building was analysed through computer simulations implemented with data of occupancy, window and blind control. Occupant behaviour profiles were identified by means of cluster analysis based on data obtained from monitoring naturally-ventilated multifamily residential buildings in Florianópolis. Different occupant behaviours were responsible for up to 130% of variations on results of degree hours for cooling and degree hours for heating. In general, occupancy was the aspect of occupant behaviour with more influence on the thermal performance due to the increase in internal thermal load and its association with control of building elements, determining a time dependence (routine).