eprintid: 10195222
rev_number: 7
eprint_status: archive
userid: 699
dir: disk0/10/19/52/22
datestamp: 2024-07-31 12:54:37
lastmod: 2024-07-31 12:54:37
status_changed: 2024-07-31 12:54:37
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
sword_depositor: 699
creators_name: Torresin, Simone
creators_name: Aletta, Francesco
creators_name: Oberman, Tin
creators_name: Albatici, Rossano
creators_name: Kang, Jian
title: Factors Influencing Window Opening Behavior and Mechanical Ventilation Usage during Summertime: a case study in UK dwellings
ispublished: pub
divisions: UCL
divisions: B04
divisions: C04
divisions: F34
keywords: Window opening behaviour,
Acoustic comfort,
Indoor soundscape,
Ventilation,
Noise sensitivity,
Well-being
note: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-nd/4.0/).
abstract: The study presents findings of a data collection campaign conducted in 61 residential buildings in England
during the summer of 2022, aiming to investigate the factors influencing 1) window usage, and 2) activation and
deactivation of mechanical ventilation systems, and 3) the correlation between the residential soundscape,
landscape, individual noise sensitivity, and the significance attributed to the external acoustic environment in
determining window usage. The survey, covering 55 dwellings reliant on windows for ventilation, highlights that
window opening is predominantly driven by perceived indoor air quality (PIAQ) and thermal comfort concerns.
Conversely, the acoustic factor ranks first in prompting window closure, alongside considerations related to
perceived cold, safety concerns, excessive drafts, and insect intrusion. Within the 6 dwellings utilizing manually
controlled mechanical ventilation, ventilation needs emerges as the predominant factor triggering system activation, followed by considerations related to thermal comfort and PIAQ. Reasons for system deactivation primarily involve a preference for window opening, excessive drafts, and, secondarily, excessive noise or thermal
discomfort, with participant-voiced concerns about operational costs. The significance attributed to the external
acoustic environment in determining window usage is mainly independent of perceived sound sources, measured
loudness, or soundscape content. However, higher acoustic comfort scores correlate with a greater willingness to
open windows for an acoustic contact. Interestingly, noise sensitivity modulates the importance attached to the
external acoustic context when interacting with the window (odds ratio: 1.04). The study underscores the need of
incorporating noise sensitivity as a relevant individual factor in models simulating window closing behaviour.
date: 2024-07
date_type: published
publisher: Elsevier BV
official_url: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.111880
oa_status: green
full_text_type: pub
language: eng
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
verified: verified_manual
elements_id: 2301505
doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.111880
lyricists_name: Torresin, Simone
lyricists_name: Kang, Jian
lyricists_name: Oberman, Tin
lyricists_name: Aletta, Francesco
lyricists_id: STORR68
lyricists_id: JKANG71
lyricists_id: TOBER63
lyricists_id: FALET55
actors_name: Aletta, Francesco
actors_id: FALET55
actors_role: owner
full_text_status: public
publication: Building and Environment
volume: 263
article_number: 111880
issn: 0360-1323
citation:        Torresin, Simone;    Aletta, Francesco;    Oberman, Tin;    Albatici, Rossano;    Kang, Jian;      (2024)    Factors Influencing Window Opening Behavior and Mechanical Ventilation Usage during Summertime: a case study in UK dwellings.                   Building and Environment , 263     , Article 111880.  10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.111880 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.111880>.       Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10195222/1/1-s2.0-S0360132324007224-main.pdf